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LIBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 
PRINCETON,  N.J. 


The  George  J.  Finney 

Collection  of  Shaker  Literature 

Given  in  Memory  of  His  Uncle 

The  Rev.  John  Clark  Finney 

Class  of  1907 


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AURELIA  S    BOOK. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/aletheiaspiritOOmace 


AUKKLIA. 
"  I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  hills  from  whence  cometh  my  help.' 


THE  ALETHEIA: 


SPIRIT  OF  TRUTH. 


A  SERIES  OF. LETTERS  IN  WHICH  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  THE 

UNITED  SOCIETY  KNOWN  AS  SHAKERS  ARE  SET 

FORTH   AND   ILLUSTRATED. 


By  AURELIA. 


"   "  God  is  our  Infinite  Motlicr;  She  ivill  hold  ns  in  her  arms  of 
blessedness  and  beauty  forever  and  ever.'' 

Theodore  Parker. 


FARMINCTON,   MAINE: 
i'RKSS  OF  KNOWLTON.   McLEARV  &  CO. 
1899. 


Copyrijjht,  iSiXA 
By  Knowlton,  McI^eakv  iV  CoMI•AN^. 


TO 

MV    TEN,"    GEMS    OF  PRICELESS    WORTH, 

I  AFFECTIONATELY    DEDICATE    THIS  BOOR. 

AURELIA. 


INTRODUCTION. 


•  With  the  object  in  view  that  the  Shakers  may  become  better 
known,  this  book  is  offered  to  the  public. 

The  first  part  comprises  a  series  of  letters  that  were  pub- 
lished in  The  Messenger,  a  Bangor  (Maine)  paper,  during  the 
years  1883  and  1884.  Then  are  inserted  communications  and 
short  articles  that  have  been  published  from  time  to  time  in  the 
Shaker  Manifesto. 

It  is  presumed  that  by  reading  this  book  one  can  obtain  a 
clear  and  correct  idea  of  the  Shakers'  belief  and  manner  of  life, 
and  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Societies. 

We  have  been  with  you  more  than  one  hundred  years,  and 
still  are  not  understood. 

The  mission  of  the  Shaker  is  to  live  the  pure  life  which 
Jesus  lived  and  taught.  Its  meaning  is  to  subdue  and  triumph 
over  the  animal  nature  in  man,  and  to  develop  the  spiritual 
nature.  This  is  done  by  self-denial.  The  self-denial  that  the 
Prophet  Daniel  lived  out,  which  made  him  the  perfect  man, 
greatly  beloved,  beautiful  in  form  and  feature,. who  could  stand 
before  the  kings  of  the  earth  and  confound  them,  and  reveal 
what  was  hidden  in  the  past  and  in  the  future. 

As  a  Society,  we,  at  Sabbathday  Lake,  have  for  many  years 
been  struggling  for  an  existence,  believing  that  we  have  some- 
thing good  and  pure  and  beautiful  to  give  unto  the  world  when 
the  world  is  able  to  receive  it.  "All  cannot  receive  the  saying. 
He  that  can  receive  it,  let  him  receive  it,"  said  Jesus.      The  line 


X  INTR  OD  UCTION. 

is  drawn  and  the  life  clearly  defined.  A  man  is  a  Shaker,  or  he 
is  not.  If  he  falls  from  the  high  standard,  even  in  spirit,  he 
ceases  to  be  a  Shaker  until  restored  by  the  forgiving  love  of 
God. 

In  the  service  of  the  Society  I  have  been  at  the  Poland 
Spring  House  many  times  during  the  past  twenty  years,  and 
have  received  great  kindness  and  consideration  from  the  people 
I  have  met  within  its  walls.  I  have  taken  note  of  the  grand 
and  beautiful  life  fortune  bestows  upon  her  favored  ones.  I 
have  had  intercourse  with  the  cultured,  the  refined  and  learned, 
and  have  great  respect  for  the  noble  class  of  people  I  meet 
here  from  year  to  year.  It  has  been  with  great  joy  that  I  have 
received  many  favors  in  behalf  of  my  people,  for  which  I  am 
ever  mindful  and  grateful. 

Special  thanks  are  due  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Poland 
Springs,  also  to  Mrs.  George  Gregg,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Mrs. 
J.  Otis  Swift,  of  Lewiston,  Maine,  for  encouragement  and  assist- 
ance. 

With  a  sincere  desire  that  some  good  and  no  harm  may  be 
the  result,  this  work  is  respectfully  submitted. 

A. 

March,  1899. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction,  .........  9 

Poem  —  Sabbathday  Lake,  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         17 

Letter  L — Our  Home  at  Sabbathday  Lake,      .         .         .         .  19 

Leiter  IL — The  Duality  of  God  —  The  Christ  Spirit,         .         .         22 
Lp:tter  in. —  Question  Answered   by  Question  —  Mother  Ann 

Lee,  .         .         .         .   •      .         .         .         .         25 

Letter  IV. —  W.  D.  Howells — Lafayette  —  Mother  Ann's  Voy- 
age to  America,         .         .         .         .         .         .         29 

Leiter  V. —  Constellations  —  Aristotle — Eternal  Punishment  — 

The. Good  Prevailing,         •         •         •         •         •         33 

Lf/iter  VI. —  The    Three    Cardinal    Principles  —  Confession  — 

Celibacy  —  Community  of  Interests,  .         .         37 

Leiter  VII. —  The  Atonement — The  God  of  Moses  —  The  God 

of  Jesus,  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .42 

Letter  VIII. —  New  Centre  Dwelling  —  School  —  Nathan  Mer- 
rill and  the  Founders  of  the  Society  —  Elder  Otis 
Sawyer,     ........         45 

Letter  IX. —  Origin  of  the  Shakers,  .....         49 

Letter  X. —  Mother  Ann's  Persecutions  in  England,  .         .         53 

Leiter  XI. — Royal's    River — Noble  Pioneers  of  the  Town  — 
First  Shaker  Meeting  in  New  Gloucester — Elder 
P^lisha    Pote  —  Death  of   Elder  Otis  Sawyer  — 
Vision  of  Mother  Ann,       .         .         .         .         .         57 

Poem  —  In  the  Woods  of  Pine,  .         .         .         .         .         .         62 

Leiter  XII. —  Protestation  I,    .         .         .         .         .         ...         63 

Letter  XIII. —  Protestation  II,  ......         66 

F.ATHERS   .AND    MOTHERS,    .VN    HUNDRED    FOLD    GREETING,       .  .  69 


CONTENTS. 


The  Chrlst  of  the  Ages  —  Creeds  —  Baptism  —  The  luicharist 
—  Equality  of  the  Sexes  —  The  Bible  —  The  Arts 
and  Sciences,    . 

Thy  Will  be  Done,  .... 

Angels  of  the  New  Dispensation, 

Leti'er  to  the  Editor  of  The  Manifesto, 

Tribute  to  Elder  Giles  B.  Avery, 

Letter  to  Count  Leo  Tolstoi, 

Jesus — Buddha  —  The  Sermon  on  the  Mount 

"The  Shakers  and  their  Homes,"  by  Charles  Edson  Robinson 

Address  to  the  School  at  Sabbathday  Lake, 

Invocation,       .... 

New  Year's  Greeting,     . 

Winter,    ..... 

Visit  to  the  Society  at  Alfred, 

To  the  Cedars  of  Leb.^non, 

Dedication  at  Poland  Springs  of  the  Maine  State  Building  — 
Also  the  Celebration  of  the  Centennial  of  the 
Ricker  Family  as  Hotel  Proprietors  in  the  town 
of  Poland,  Maine,        ..... 

The  Shaker  Setllements  of  Canterbury  and  Enfield,  New 
Hampshire,      ....... 

Poem  —  The  Day  of  Judgment,  ...... 


7' 
75 
77 
79 
82 

84 
86 
88 
91 
93 
95 
97 
100 
103 


105 

I  TO 

116 


APPENDIX. 


Shaker  Church  Covenant, 


119 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


AuREi.iA,    .........         Frontispiece. 

Sakbathday  Lake,    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  17 

Poland  Spring  House, 24 

Hester  Ann  Adams,          .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  28 

Elder  John  Whiteley,     .                  .         .         .         .         .         .  32 

John  B.  Vance,         .........  36 

Shaker  Meeting,      .........  38 

Eliza  Ann  Taylor,           ........  40 

Eldress  Dorothy  Ann  Durgin,        ......  44 

Meeting-house  and  Center  Dwelling,      .....  48 

Mary  Ann  Gillespie,         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  52 

Elder  William  Dumont,   .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  56 

Elder  Otis  Sa\v\'er,         ........  60 

Elder  Abraham  Perkins,           .......  62 

Elder  Joshua  Bussell, 64 

Sisters  of  the  Sabbathday  Lake  Community,          ...  68 

Trustees'  Office, 71 

Eldress  Lizzie  Noyes, 72 

Mary  Ella  Douglas, 76 

Some  of  Our  Children  and  their  Teachers,          ...  78 

Elder  Henry  C.  Blinn, So 

Giles  B.  Avery, 82 

Sisters  of  the  Community  at  Sabbathday  Lake,    ...  84 
Our  Children,          .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .    ■    88 


\I\' 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


AriENDrNG  Shaker  Mekting,  iS86, 
Ei,DREss  Harriet  Goodwin, 
Elder  Henry  G.  Green,  .... 
Cedars  of  Lei?anon,  Elder  Evans  in  the  center, 
The  Queen's  Daughters  in  Raiment  of  Needi, 
Maine  State  Buildin(;,      .... 
David  Parker,  Trustee,      .... 
Lucy  Anj/Shepard,  Trustee, 
Elder  Joseph  Holdkn, 


92 

96 

100 

TO3 

EWORK, 

104 

108 

• 

112 

114 

121 

THE    ALETHEIA. 


>sr 


SABBATHDAY    LAKE. 


Upon  thy  shores,  O  lovely  lake, 
This  calm,  mid-summer  day, 

I  seem  to  hear  a  voice  which  tells 
Of  ages  passed  away. 

That,  long  before  the  birth  of  men, 
Through  many  waiting  years, 

You  saw  the  forests  rise,  and  heard 
The  music  of  the  Spheres. 

And  then  the  Indian  came,  from  whence 

The  mystery  is  sealed. 
We  question  history,  old  and  new. 

It  has  not  been  revealed. 

But  this  we  know,  he  trod  these  shores, 
His  fields  of  maize  here  grew; 

You  saw  the  wigwam  in  the  shade. 
You  bore  the  bark  canoe. 

And  here,  by  simple  nature  taught. 

Ere  science  walked  abroad. 
In  rolling  waves  and  thunderings. 

He  heard  the  voice  of  God. 

Time  fled,  another  race  appeared,  • 

The  former  passed  away. 
And  hunters  gave  the  lake  its  name, — 

The  name  of  Sabbathday. 


THE  ALETHEIA. 

For  here  they  met,  those  sturdy  men 

Of  Puritanic  race. 
Each  Sabbath  found  them  here,  this  spot 

Became  their  trysting-place. 

The  years  rolled  b}^  the  village  grew, 

The  mighty  forests  fell. 
You  saw  the  steeple  rise  afar, 

You  heard  the  Sabbath  bell. 

You  heard  the  whistle  of  the  train 

Upon  its  iron  rails. 
The  wilderness  was  all  aglow 

Along  the  hills  and  dales. 

O  lovely  lake,  I  walk  thy  shores. 

This  calm  mid-summer  day, 
And  muse  on  wonders  thou  hast  seen 

In  ages  passed  away. 


LETTER   I. 

OUR   HOME   AT  SABBATHDAY  LAKE. 

West  Gloucester,  January,  1883. 

Editors  of  the  Bangor  Messenger :  — 

I  thought  you  would  Hke  to  know  something  of  the 
Shaker  Order,  and  therefore  write  you  a  letter  from  the 
heart  of  the  village  of  this  peculiar  people.  I  am  a 
Shaker  myself,  have  been  from  childhood,  and  know 
whereof  I  speak. 

Nothing  could  be  more  pleasing  to  us  than  to  have  all 
know  of  the  hope  that  is  in  us,  of  the  well-spring  from 
which  we  drink,  that  has  kept  this  community  in  gradual 
growth  for  more  than  one  hundred  years.  It  is  favorable 
to  any  people  to  be  liked  best  where  they  are  best  known. 
We  find  this  to  be  the  case  with  us. 

Shaker  Village,  in  West  Gloucester,  is  very  pleasantly 
situated  on  the  eastern  side  of  a  small  hill,  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  higher  land.  I  can  no  better  describe  the 
place  than  in  the  words  of  an  aged  Shaker  brother,  Cur- 
tis Cramer,  now  visiting  us,  from  the  society  in  Cleve- 


20  THE  ALETHEIA. 

land,  Ohio.  He  says:  "Take  a  large  wooden  bowl  and 
invert  a  smaller  one  inside  of  it,  and  you  will  get  some 
idea  of  the  situation," 

The  village  is  on  the  side  of  the  smaller  bowl,  with  a 
beautiful  lake  at  its  base,  which  is  half  a  mile  from  the 
village  on  the  east.  We  have  a  very  fine  view  of  the 
lake  with  the  woodlands  surrounding  it  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year ;  but  in  autumn  the  scenery  is  magnificent, 
abounding  in  many  colors,  with  the  passing  clouds  throw- 
ing their  shadows  upon  them.  The  lake  derived  its 
name  from  a  party  of  hunters,  who,  in  the  olden  time, 
met  on  its  shores  every  Sunday.  Hence  the  Sabbath- 
day  Lake. 

Our  government  is  a  theocracy.  We  find  a  mother  as 
well  as  a  father  in  God,  and  are  held  together  by  bonds 
of  pure  love.  Nothing  else  could  do  it.  The  life  that 
Jesus  lived  is  our  example,  and  our  order  is  founded 
upon  the  principles  of  that  church  that  was  organized  at 
Jerusalem  by  his  disciples.  We  have  given  up  the  pri- 
vate family  life,  and  found  in  its  place  the  great  brother- 
hood and  sisterhood  which  Jesus  promised  to  those  who 
would  become  his  followers.  All  are  loved  and  cared 
for.  The  rich  and  exalted  come  down  and  the  poor  are 
raised  up,  bringing  all  upon  a  Christian  level. 

We  have  an  official  organ  in  the  form  of  a  pamphlet, 
called  The  Manifesto,  edited  by  Elder  Henry  C.  Blinn, 
East  Canterbury,  Merrimac  County,  N.  H.  It  is  issued 
monthly  and  is  contributed  to  by  some  of  the  deep  think- 
ers of  the  day. 


O  UR  HOME  A  T  SABBA  THDA  Y  LAKE.  2  I 

Two  miles  north  of  us  are  the  famous  Poland  Mineral 
Springs,  with  two  large  hotels  accommodating  many 
invalids  who  come  for  the  benefits  derived  from  drinking 
the  water,  and  thousands  of  others  who  come  for  the 
pleasure  of  this  pleasant  resort  during  the  summer 
months.  The  hotels  are  first-class  in  every  respect. 
Just  one  mile  south  are  the  Centennial  Springs.  We 
are  surrounded  by  healing  waters. 

Thus  you  see  that  as  was  prophesied  in  days  of  old, 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  has  arisen  upon  us  with  heal- 
ing in  his  wings,  and  there  is  a  balm  in  Gilead  by  which 
the  wounds  of  both  body  and  soul  can  be  healed.  There 
is  that  Platonic  love,  among  us,  which  goes  out  to  the 
suffering  sons  and  daughters  of  men. 

Have  you  a  desire  to  know  more  of  this  peculiar  peo- 
ple?    "  Ask  and  ye  shall  receive." 


LETTER   II. 

THE   DUALITY  OF   GOD— THE    CHRIST  SPIRIT. 

February,  1883.. 
Editors  of  The  Messenger :  — 

In  the  article  that  I  recently  contributed  to  your  paper, 
I  alluded  to  a  subject  which  I  \yish  to  say  more  upon. 

It  may  be  that  we,  in  looking  abroad,  see  as  much  in 
the  creeds  of  those  outside  which  seems  strange  and 
unaccountable  to  us,  as  the  casual  observer  finds  among 
us  that  is  hard  for  him  to  understand. 

I  would  "walk  with  bare,  hushed  feet  the  ground" 
which  I  am  about  to  enter.  With  due  respect  for  the 
sincere  belief  of  others,  I  must  say  that  it  seems  strange 
to  us  that  after  all  these  years  of  increasing  light,  there 
should  be  any  blind  to  the  fact  that  we  have  a  mother  as 
truly  as  we  have  a  father  in  God.  "His  eternal  power 
and  God-head"  are  understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  and  all  animal  and  vegetable  life  was  created  male 
and  female.  We  have  the  authority  of  Moses  that  God 
said,  "  Let  us  make  man  in  our  image."  Then  they  cre- 
ated a  man  and  a  woman.  Is  not  this  conclusive  evi- 
dence of  the  duality  of  God? 


THE   CHRIST  SPIRIT.  23 

How  did  Jesus  become  the  Christ  ?  Some  who  read 
this  will  say  he  was  born  the  Christ,  but  we  can  not  view 
it  in  that  light.  Nearly  nineteen  hundred  years  ago  a 
man  lived  a  very  pure  life  and  went  about  doing  good, 
until  the  beautiful  Spirit  of  Christ  descended  and  abode 
upon  him.  -He  was  not  the  first  maji  that  received  the 
anointing  power  of  Christ,  neither  was  he  the  last. 
About  four  hundred  years  before  Jesus  was  born,  Soc- 
rates, by  his  self-denying  life,  received  in  a  measure,  the 
baptism  of  the  Christ  Spirit.  Also  Plato  ;  so  much  so, 
that  we  can  not  think  it  sacrilegious  to  call  him  Plato  the 
Christ. 

These  great  men  of  old  may  have  made  mistakes ;  but 
the  principles  which  they  carried  out  in  their  lives,  and 
taught  to  others,  did  not  so  far  diverge  from  those  after- 
wards promulgated  by  Jesus,  as  the  lives  of  some  who 
call  themselves  Christians  in  our  day.  Can  a  follower  of 
Jesus  the  Christ  go  to  war  with  his  fellow-men  ? 

I  claim  that  there  are  those  now  living  in  our  order, 
those  "with  whom  my  feet  have  trod  the  quiet  aisles  of 
pra)'er,"  who  by  a  close  walk  with  God  have  attained  the 
Christ  Spirit,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  many  who  are 
not  of  this  fold. 

A  few  lines  in  regard  to  our  situation  here  may  be 
acceptable.  One  mile  from  our  home,  and  just  half-way 
between  us  and  the  Poland  Mineral  Springs,  on  the 
north,  is  another  Shaker  village  very  beautifully  situated 
on  the  first  and  highest  of  the  Rang  Hills. 

There  are  three  hills  that  range  side  by  side  toward 


24  THE  ALETHEIA. 

the  north,  each  with  a  small  lake  on  the  west.  The 
fathers  and  mothers  of  old  gave  them  the  name  of  the 
Rang  Hills  and  the  Rang  Ponds,  calling  the  word  Rang 
instead  of  Range. 

Poland  Mineral  Springs  are  on  the  middle  Rang  Hill. 
From  the  tower  o£  the  Poland  Spring  House,  can  be 
seen,  with  all  the  surrounding  country,  the  Rang  Hill  on 
the  north,  the  Rang  Hill  on  the  south,  with  the  Shaker 
village  thereon,  and  the  three  lakes  to  the  west.  In  a 
clear  day  the  White  Mountains  towards  the  northwest, 
and  the  cities  of  Lewiston  and  Auburn  to  the  northeast 
are  in  plain  view,  and  far  to  the  southeast  the  ocean, 
until  it  is  lost  in  the  azure  sky. 

On  pleasant  afternoons  in  summer,  we  often  enjoy 
delightful  rides  over  these  hills.  At  the  hotels  we  have 
always  been  treated  with  great  politeness.  Hiram 
Ricker  &  Sons,  proprietors  of  the  two  Poland  Spring 
Houses,  have  ever  shown  the  greatest  kindness  to  us,  as 
a  people,  for  which  they  have  our  sincere  thanks. 


LETTER   III. 


QUESTION  ANSWERED  BY  QUESTION—  MOTHER 
ANN  LEE. 

March,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger  :  — 

Between  our  village  and  New  Gloucester  Upper  Cor- 
ner on  the  east,  is  a  forest  of  tall,  straight  pine  trees,  the 
beautiful  evergreens  of  our  northern  land.  How  often, 
in  riding  by  them  and  walking  in  their  shade,  we  have 
felt  the  force  of  that  marvelous  power  that  is  able  to 
change  the  scenery  around  us  into  poetry.  It  is  the 
eyes  that  see,  and  the  ears  that  hear  with  acuteness, 
that  can  find  "tongues  in  trees,  sermons  in  stones,  books 
in  the  running  brooks  and  good  in  everything"  by  which 
we  are  surrounded. 

From  the  fertile  soil  of  our  domain,  spring  spontane- 
ously the  rock  and  white  maple.  The  present  season  is 
so  backward,  and  the  snows  are  lying  so  deeply,  that  we 
have  not  yet  commenced  to  rob  them  of  their  nectar.  A 
few  days  more  and  they  must  yield  to  the  sovereignty 
of  man.  Beautiful  trees,  standing  in  your  pride  and 
strength,  you  find  in  man  your  lord  and  master! 


26  THE  ALETHEIA. 

I  propose  to  answer  a  question  universally  asked  in 
regard  to  our  community.  It  is  a  fact  well  known  that 
we  live  the  virgin  life;  and  the  question  is:  "What 
would  become  of  the  world  if  all  should  be  Shakers?"  I 
have  heard  it  said  that  it  is  characteristic  of  the  Yan- 
kees, that  they  answer  one  question  by  asking  another ; 
so  I  will  answer  this  question  by  asking  a  number. 
What  would  become  of  the  world  if  all  should  go  to 
war  and  slay  their  fellow-men  ?  What  would  become  of 
the  world  if  all  that  growls  from  the  ground  should  be 
kept  for  seed  to  reproduce  its  like,  and  no  portion  of  it 
saved  for  the  higher  use  of  sustaining  life?  What  would 
become  of  the  world  if  that  great  day  of  judgment  should 
come  "  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,"  according  to  the 
literal  sense  in  which  it  is  understood  by  many  from  a 
misinterpretation  of  the  Scriptures? 

It  has  been  said  that  war  and  pestilence  are  necessary 
evils  to  check  an  over-abundant  population.  If  this  is 
so,  it  would  be  well  if  the  Shakers  were  more  numerous, 
that  the  check  might  come  in  a  humane  way,  and  those 
evils  become  exterminated. 

All  will  admit  that  Jesus  lived  the  highest  life  that 
could  be  lived  by  man ;  and  he  expressly  declares : 
"All  can  not  receive  this  saying  save  they  to  whom  it 
is  given."  "  He  that  is  able  to  receive  it  let  him  receive 
it."  He  afterwards  said  to  those  who  had  received  the 
saying:  "Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world";  and  again, 
"  Ye  are  not  of  the  world,"  for  to  them  had  already  come 
the  end  of  the  world,  the  Day  of  Judgment.      Let  those 


MOTHER  ANN  LEE.  27 

who  can  not  receive  the  saying  become  perfect  in  their 
generations.  In  so  doing  they  will  receive  all  the  good 
that  is  to  be  found  in  the  marriage  relation. 

Ann  Lee  was  the  founder  of  the  Shaker  community. 
She  came  to  America  from  Manchester,  England,  in  the 
year  seventeen  hundred  seventy-four,  accomplished  her 
great  work  and  died  ten  years  from  that  time,  at  the  age 
of  forty-eight. 

She  possessed  a  powerful  magnetism  by  which  she 
seemed  to  control,  easily,  all  within  the  sound  of  her 
voice.  Thousands  believed  her  words,  and  gave  them- 
selves, together  with  all  their  worldly  goods,  to  support 
her  cause.  Bringing  their  property  together,  they  organ- 
ized these  communities,  which  remain  and  flourish  to  this 
day. 

We  claim  that  she  was  inspired  and  directed  by  a 
power  beyond  that  law  of  which  Ingersoll  speaks  and 
writes,  that  she  was  the  developing  medium  of  mighty 
principles,  eternal  as  the  hills,  that  must  yet  undermine 
and  destroy  all  false  creeds.  Already  we  see  the  writing 
upon  the  wall,  and  no  Daniel  is  needed  for  its  interpreta- 
tion. The  light  of  the  present  day  is  revealing  to  many 
those  same  principles,  so  clearly  seen  and  set  forth  by 
our  Mother,  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago. 

One  of  these  principles  is,  eternal  progression  in  the 
life  beyond.  The  travel  of  the  soul  from  one  degree  of 
grace  and  glory  to  another  throughout  the  endless  ages 
of  eternity. 

She    also    received    and   transmitted   to   her   followers 


2  8  THE  ALETHEIA. 

that  power  which  has  held  these  communities  together 
through  the  years  that  have  passed,  while  those  founded 
on  other  theories  have  failed. 

We  would  have  all  who  advocate  the  rights  of  women 
understand  that  our  Mother  gave  unto  her  daughters, 
equal  rights  with  their  brothers  in  all  the  offices  estab- 
lished for  the  government  of  the  Shaker  Order, 

That  Scripture  is  being  fulfilled  before  our  eyes  : 
"The  wolf  also  shall  dwell  with  the  lamb,"  etc.  "And 
they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  ploughshares,  and  their 
spears  into  pruning-hooks,"  and  they  shall  learn  war  no 
more. 


HESTER    ANN    ADAMS. 
Formerly  of  the  Maine  Ministry. 


What  shall  I  render  to  thee, 

My   Father? 
What  shall  I  bring  as  a 
Tribute  of  love  to  thee. 

My  Mother? 
A  iuimble  heart,  a  contrite  spirit, 
A  virgin  life,  I  bring  unto  thee. 


LETTER   IV. 


IV.  D.  HOWELLS—  LAFAYETTE  —  MOTHER  ANN'S 
VOYAGE    TO   AMERICA. 

May,    1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger :  — 

Having  been  indulged  with  space  in  your  columns  a 
number  of  times,  I  am  encouraged  to  write  again.  What 
most  impels  me  is  the  desire  that  our  principles  and 
standing  may  become  better  known  to  those  outside.  We 
would  speak  to  the  people  and  earnestly  solicit  a  hear- 
ing ;  that  those  so  inclined  may  investigate  what  has 
hitherto  been  so  little  understood. 

But  few  in  comparison  know  of  that  germ  which 
started  into  growth  contemporary  with  the  glorious 
Republic  itself,  that  is  yet  to  become  a  great  tree,  giving 
shelter  to  many  weary  souls,  and  healing  to  the  nations. 

We  have  been  brought  before  the  public  in  "The 
Undiscovered  Country,"  by  W.  D.  Howells.  To  my 
understanding  he  leaves  the  country  undiscovered,  or 
the  world  in  doubt  of  its  existence.  The  work  shows 
that  the  Shakers  felt  sure  of  a  future  life  of  happiness, 


7,0  THE  ALETBEIA. 

but  also  a  chance  that  they  were  mistaken.  Of  the  child 
that  had  died,  the  outside  man  said :  "  If  it  knows  any- 
thing." But  the  Shaker  said:  "We  are  sure  that  it 
knows."  Friend  Howells  is  very  fair  and  correct  in  what 
he  says  about  the  angel  life;  but  hardly  gives  credit  to 
our  people  for  the  intelligence  which  belongs  to  them. 
In  our  ranks  are  found  men  with  a  collegiate  education, 
and  women  learned  and  cultured. 

Ann  Lee,  our  Mother,  had  visions  of  Divine  Beings 
from  her  childhood.  She  walked  with  God,  revealed  to 
her  by  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect :  "I  saw  two 
bright  angels  of  God  standing  by  the  mast,"  were  her 
words  to  the  captain  when  the  water  was  rushing  into  the 
ship,  "through  whom  i  received  this  promise :  There 
shall  not  a  hair  of  our  heads  perish.  We  shall  all  arrive 
safely  in  America."  She  then  assisted  with  her  own 
hands  at  the.  pumps.  Shortly  after  this  a  large  wave 
struck  the  ship  with  great  violence,  and  the  loose  plank 
was  instantly  closed  in  its  place. 

This  was  viewed  by  all  on  board  as  a  miraculous  inter- 
position of  Divine  Providence  in  their  favor,  and  Mother 
Ann  and  her  eight  followers  were  treated  with  great 
respect  and  kindness  during  the  remainder  of  the  voy- 
age. The  captain  was  ever  afterwards  free  to  declare, 
that  had  it  not  been  for  these  people,  he  would  have 
been  sunk  in  the  sea  and  never  reached  America.  They 
landed  in  New  York  the  sixth  day  of  August,  1774. 

Lafayette,  while  he  was  in  this  country  in  the  time  of 
the   Revolutionary  War,  once  visited   Mother  Ann   and 


LAFAYETTE.  31 

conversed  with  her,  and  witnessed  the  worship  of  her 
people,  saw  them  moved  by  an  occult  power.  He  drew 
near  to  Abijah  Wooster,  a  very  g-ifted  young-  man,  and 
tried  to  take  hold  of  his  hand.  Abijah  said  to  him,  "Do 
you  love  this  power?"  Lafayette  made  answer,  "It  is 
something  that  seems  greatly  to  be  desired." 

These  people  held  daily  converse  with  their  friends  in 
spirit  life  many  years  before  the  spiritual  manifestations 
commenced  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.  It  seemed  as  though 
bright  beings  from  the  throne  of  Eternal  Majest)-  came 
down  and  ministered  to  them  heavenly  gifts ;  and  the 
promised  Millennium  had  commenced. 

Thus  the  evidence  is  brought  to  our  senses  that  we 
exist  after  death  and  that  there  is  a  God,  the  Great  First 
Cause  and  Creator  of  all  things.  Not  because  the  Bible 
tells  us  so,  but  from  present  revelations. 

All  things  invented,  made,  or  created,  must  be  origi- 
nated by  minds  superior  to  the  things  thus  brought  into 
existence,  so  this  great  universe  must  have  been  formed 
by  a  Being  far  superior  to  itself.  Is  not  this  "  Proof  Pal- 
pable of  Immortality  "  ? 

"  I  am,  O  (Jod,  and  surely  Thou  must  be, 
Thy  light.  Thy  love,  in  their  bright  plenitude 
Filled  me  with  an  immortal  soul,  to  spring 
Over  the  abyss  of  death,  and  bade  it  wear 
The  garments  of  eternal  day,  and  wing 
Its  heavenly  flight  beyond  this  little  sphere 
Even  to  its  source,  to  Thee  its  Author  there  ! " 

This  is  the  faith  which  we  have  received  and  we  are 
fettered  by  no  creed,  but  as   Friend    Howells  sa)s,   live 


2,2  THE  A  LETHE  I  A. 

the  anorel,  virgin  life,  the  Hfe  that  Jesus  Hved.  Or  we 
are  ever  striving  to  come  as  near  to  that  as  possible. 

A  large  dwelling-house  is  being  built  in  our  village,  so 
business  is  unusually  lively.  To-day  the  granite  blocks 
are  moving  fast  into  place,  forming  the  basement ;  the 
three  stories  above  to  be  of  brick.  The  granite  is  taken 
from  a  quarry  on  our  farm  about  a  mile  from  the  village. 

These  are  fine  May  days ;  the  farmers  are  putting  the 
seed  into  the  ground,  the  garden  is  planted  and  the  roots 
set  out,  but  we  have  yet  to  see  the  first  dandelion  blos- 
som and  buttercup  of  the  Spring ;  trailing  arbutus  flow- 
ers are  brought  in  and  there  are  none  more  lovely  or 
sweet,  giving  good  cheer  to  all.  The  birds  are  busily 
repairing  their  little  dwellings  in  the  trees.  To  walk  out 
into  the  beautiful  day  and  drink  in  the  blessings  around 
us  is  joy  unspeakable. 


ELDER    JOHN    WlllTELEV. 

Dishof  of  the  Societies  in  Massachusetts  in  which  was  laid  the  flof  of  the  "  Inidiseox 
ered  Country^  by   W.  D.  Howells. 

•'  I  have  feet,  with  God  they  're  walking, 
For  with  gospel  peace  they  're  shod ; 
Most  familiarly  I  'ni  talking 
As  I  take  my  walk  with  God. 

"  I  have  ears  to  hear  the  story 
Men  and  angels  love  to  tell ; 
Eyes  to  see  the  rising  glory 

Which  sliall   Zion's  triumphs  swell.'' 


LETTER  V. 

CONSTELLATIONS— ARISTOTLE—  E TERNAL   PUNISH- 
MENT—THE   GOOD   PREVAILING. 

June,    1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger  : — 

June  is  here  in  all  her  loveliness,  the  most  beautiful 
season  of  the  year. 

On  either  side  of  the  street  which  runs  north  and 
south,  are  to  be  seen  lilac  bushes  in  full  bloom,  both 
white  and  colored.  In  the  row  of  shade  trees  extending 
the  length  of  the  village  are  the  horse-chestnut,  now  in 
the  height  of  their  beauty.  The  large  white  trumpet- 
shaped  blossoms  pointing  upward  through  the  deep 
green  foliage  of  the  trees,  are  a  sight  one  is  never  tired 
of  beholding.  On  the  top  of  the  hill  at  the  west  is  an 
orchard  of  young  apple  trees,  now  in  full  bloom.  Vine- 
yards, gardens,  orchards,  and  cultivated  fields  all  around 
us  in  whatever  direction  we  turn  our  eyes,  and  in  our 
hearts  that  peace  which  passeth  understanding.  Surely 
the  Utopia  of  Sir  Thomas  More  is  outdone. 

When  night  hath  drawn  her   sable  curtains  over  our 


34  THE  ALETHEIA. 

heads,  we  look  away  into  the  far  heavens,  and  behold 
mystery  upon  mystery.  There  are  now  plainly  to  be 
seen  six  stars  of  the  first  magnitude  looking  down  upon 
us.  Spica  in  the  constellation  Virgo,  toward  the  south- 
west ;  Altair  in  Aquila,  to  the  east ;  Arcturus,  Deneb, 
Antares  and  Vega,  all  glowing  with  light  from  an  inex- 
haustible fountain.  Let  us  go  to  them,  in  imagination, 
and  from  them,  behold  the  stars  that  will  look  down 
upon  us,  as  far  from  them  as  they  are  from  our  little 
Earth.  Let  us  go  to  the  farthest  star  in  the  Nebula  of 
Orion,  and  we  shall  come  to  no  end,  neither  can  we  com- 
prehend any  beginning. 

As  it  is  in  regard  to  space,  so  is  it  also  in  regard  to 
time.  That  man  never  lived  who  could  search  out  the 
existence  of  the  Almighty,  the  beginning  or  the  end  of 
time.  Aristotle  said:  "It  is  evident  there  is  neither 
space,  nor  time,  nor  vacuum  beyond  the  residence  of  the 
gods  in  the  highest  heavens."  And  this  to  us  is  unfath- 
omable. ■* 

We  have  before  our  eyes,  the  Immensity  of  Space, 
without  beginning  or  end,  and  we  also  know  of  the  great 
aeon  of  God,  there  is  neither  beginning  nor  ending.  It 
is  enough  for  us  to  have  the  evidence  that  we  shall  exist, 
individual  beings,  when  that  Angel,  with  one  foot  upon 
the  sea  and  the  other  upon  the  land,  declares:  "There 
shall   be   time   no   longer."      And    this   will   be  but   the 


*  Since  the  date  of  the  publication  of  this  letter  scientific  investigations 
have  made  known  the  elements  of  ether  and  the  wonderful  power  of  the 
X-ray. 


ETERNAL  PUNISHMENT.  35 

beginning,  the  mystery  of  God  will  be  finished,  because 
we  shall  but  just  then  begin  to  comprehend  the  deep 
things  of  the  Almighty. 

It  is  a  strange  idea  that  any  should  believe  for  one 
moment  that  a  God,  with  the  attributes  of  love  and  jus- 
tice in  His  organization,  could  create  an  immortal  being, 
and  then  punish  him  eternally  with  dreadful  sufferings 
for  a  few  failures  at  the  commencement  of  his  existence. 
Jesus  represented  this  God  as  a  father,  tender  and  merci- 
ful to  His  children,  and  we  can  see  nothing  in  His  teach- 
ings to  justify  any  such  belief. 

Every  sin  has  its  penalty,  and  each  individual  must 
suffer  according  to  the  measure  of  his  transgressions, 
either  in  this  life  or  in  the  next.  The  punishment  is  but 
for  reformation,  and  when  reformation  is  complete,  the 
soul  is  restored  to  happiness  and  peace. 

In  looking  over  the  world,  I  hardly  think  we  could  find 
a  soul  without  one  spark  of  goodness,  and  all  goodness  is 
of  God.  The  germs  of  goodness  will  develop  and  grow, 
and  the  tares  will  finally  be  destroyed,  and  cast  into  the 
fire  of  truth. 

How  many  great  improvements  have  been  made  within 
the  present  century,  and  how  many  evils  have  been 
driven  from  the  land !  The  scourge  of  slavery  might  be 
called  the  greatest,  which  cost  so  many  precious  lives 
and  is  so  well  remembered  by  those  of  us  who  have 
arrived  at  the  meridian  of  life.  Above  all  the  turmoil 
and  the  confusion  extant,  we  behold  the  good  prevailing, 
and  the  evil  being  constantly  undermined,  the  signs  of 


36  THE  ALETHEIA. 

the  times  gradually  tending  to  the  perfect  day,  the  Jubi- 
lee, the  Millennium. 

"  A  Father's  hand,  a  Mother's  care, 
Is  ruling  o'er  the  billows  there." 

Scattered  abroad  over  this  fair  land  are  the  pleasant 
community  homes  of  the  Shakers,  of  whom  you  yet  know 
but  little.  They  are  not  homes  of  servitude  and  sorrow, 
but  they  are  homes  of  liberty,  cheerfulness  and  peace, 
where  brothers  and  sisters  enjoy  each  other's  society  in 
purity  and  refinement,  realizing  all  the  blessings  that 
accrue  from  lives  strictly  disciplined  in  the  school  of 
Christ.     "Come  and  see,"  for  we  want  you  to  know. 


JOHN    B.    VANCE. 

Formerly  Bishop  of  the  Societies  in  A/aim 


I  imagine  that  many  of  eartli's  lieroes  have  had  to  go  to  school  a  long  time  in  tliat 
other  world  to  learn  even  the  elementary  lessons  of  how  to  live  properly. 

J.     H.    V. 


LETTER   VI. 


THE   THREE    CARDINAL  PRINCIPLES— CONFESSION- 
CELIBACY—  COMMUNITY  OF  INTERESTS. 

July,    1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger :  — 

Shall  I  write  you  a  Sunday  letter?  Here  in  the  still- 
ness of  the  afternoon,  sitting  by  my  writing  table,  I  recall 
the  events  of  the  day.  At  ten  o'clock  we  went  to  church, 
where  many  people  had  assembled  to  witness  the  wor- 
ship of  the  Shakers.  It  seems  there  were  various  causes 
that  drew  them.  Some  came  merely  for  the  recreation 
of  a  Sunday  ride,  some  for  the  amusement  of  seeing  a 
strange  people,  so  different  from  "the  rest  of  mankind," 
others  from  a  sincere  desire  to  find  out  our  relio-ious 
belief.     This  was  held  forth  to  them  very  plainly. 

Would  your  readers  like  to  know  what  was  told  the 
people  in  our  meeting  to-day?  Then  they  will  know 
what  they  will  have  to  do  to  become  Christians.  (Excuse 
me,  I  look  upon  the  words  Christians  and  Shakers  as 
synonymous.) 

There  are  three  principles  unchangeable,  that  must  be 


38  THE  ALETHEIA. 

met  and  digested  at  the  beginning  and  strictly  adhered 
to  in  after  life  if  we  would  be  Shakers. 

The  questions  of  location,  dress,  diet,  etc.,  are  of  minor 
importance,  still  we  aim  at  health  and  uniformity. 

When  you  see  how  straight  these  three  principles  of 
which  I  am  about  to  tell  you,  draw  the  line  for  our  feet  to 
walk  by,  you  may  feel  that  it  is  a  life  hard  to  be  attained, 
that,  "This  an  hard  saying;  who  can  hear  it?" 

Can  there  be  any  greater  crosses  required  under  the 
Shaker  Covenant  than  were  required  by  that  Constitu- 
tion which  Lycurgus  formed  for  the  Spartans,  by  which 
they  rose  to  be  such  a  brave  people?  Could  our  laws 
bind  us  any  more  closely  to  a  self-denying  life  than  that 
ideal  government  of  Plato,  which  was  never  fully  put  into 
practice  ? 

The  way  is  straight  and  narrow,  and  there  are  few  that 
find  it.  I  tell  you  truly,  I  would  rather  be  one  of  the  few 
than  of  the  many.  Buddha,  long  before  Jesus,  pointed 
out  "  The  Path,'  straight  and  narrow,  devoid  of  animal 
passions.  His  teachings  were,  in  many  ways,  similar  to 
those  of  Jesus.  "  He  that  is  compassionate  and  observes 
the  law  is  my  disciple,"  said  Buddha.  "  I  am  not  come 
to  destroy  the  law,  but  to  fulfill,"  said  Jesus. 

In  defence  of  the  Shaker  Covenant,  the  Hon.  John 
Brethrett  of  Kentucky  in  his  charge  to  a  jury  uses  these 
words  :  "  And  is  it  a  matter  of  objection  against  any 
man,  that  his  motives  are  so  pure  and  disinterested  that 
he  desires  to  be  released  from  earthly  thralldom,  that 
he  may  fix  all  his  thoughts  and  affections  on  his  God  ? 


SHAKER    IMKETLXG. 


CONFESSION.  39 

And  after  he  has  signed  the  Covenant  he  is  released 
from  earthly  care. 

"  Much  has  been  said  against  the  Shaker  Covenant. 
But,  Sir,  I  repeat  it,  that  individual  who  is  prepared  to 
sign  the  Church  Covenant,  stands  in  an  enviable  situa- 
tion ;  who,  deVjOted  to  God,  is  prepared  to  say  of  his 
property,  '  Here  it  is,  little  or  much,  take  it  and  leave  me 
unmolested  to  commune  with  my  God.  Indeed  I  dedi- 
cate myself  to  what  ?  Not  a  fanatical  tenet ;  O  no,  to  a 
subject  far  beyond,  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God,  the 
great  Creator  and  Governor  of  the  Universe.  Under  the 
influence  of  His  love,  I  give  my  all ;  only  let  me  worship 
according  to  my  faith,  and  in  a  manner  I  believe  accepta- 
ble to  my  God.' 

"Now  what  is  there  objectionable  in  all  this?  I  say 
again,  the  world  can  not  produce  a  parallel  to  the  situa- 
tion such  a  man  exhibits.  Resigned  to  the  will  of 
Heaven,  free  from  all  feelings  of  earthly  desires,  and 
pursuing  quietly  the  peaceful  tenor  of  his  way." 

But  you  desire  to  know  what  these  three  principles 
are.      I  will  tell  you. 

First  —  Confession.  Every  sin,  secret  or  otherwise, 
must  be  confessed,  one  by  one  in  the  presence  of  a  wit- 
ness, whom  we  consider  has  attained  a  greater  degree  of 
the  Spirit  of  Christ  than  ourselves.  Now  we  have 
entered  "  The  Path''  hereafter  there  must  be  no  more 
darkness  in  us.     Our  walk  must  be  in  the  light. 

Second — The  Virgin  Life.  No  longer  to  be  controlled 
by  animal  passions.      "Ye  are  harve.sted."     "All  can  not 


40  THE  ALETHEIA. 

receive  this  saying."  But  it  must  be  received  and  lived 
out  by  the  Shaker,  the  Christian. 

Third  —  Community  of  Interests.  The  worldly  goods 
which  we  possessed  are  no  longer  our  own.  We  settle 
with  our  heirs,  and  pay  all  our  debts,  then,  if  there  is  any- 
thing left,  we  lay  it  "at  the  apostles'  feet,"  for  every  man 
as  he  has  need.  This  sacrifice  is  not  accepted  until  the 
person  has  had  time  for  due  consideration.  If  after  this, 
he  withdraws  from  fellowship,  the  society  is  not  obliged 
to  restore  to  him  what  he  thus  freely  gave ;  but  there  is 
generally  a  settlement  made,  mutually  satisfactory. 

From  the  doctrines  of  the  confession  of  sin  we  find 
that  the  house  built  upon  the  sands  of  the  atonement  of 
Christ  must  fall.  Each  must  atone  for  himself,  bringing 
his  own  deeds  to  judgment.  From  our  dual  God  — 
Father  and  Mother  —  we  find  that  the  house  built  upon 
the  sands  of  the  Trinity  must  fall.  There  has  been  noth- 
ing created  in  the  likeness  of  any  such  prototype  as  three 
male  beings  in  one.  Because  we  know  that  God  is  good, 
we  find  that  the  house  built  upon  the  sands  of  eternal 
punishment  must  fall.  The  door  is  open  through  the 
endless  ages,  for  repentance  and  restoration. 

These  are  truths  according  to  the  light  that  we  have 
received,  and  we  would  not  tear  down  and  destroy  the 
hopes  of  any,  if  we  did  not  have  something  better,  as  we 
believe,  to  take  their  places. 

"  Let,  then,  O  God  !  thy  servants  dare 
Thy  truth  in  all  its  power  to  tell, 
Unmask  the  priestly  thieves,  and  tear 
The  Bible  from  the  grasp  of  hell  !  " 


KI.IZA    ANN     lAVLOK. 
Of  the  Central  Ministry,  Mt.  Lebanon.  M.    Y. 


■  I  will  bless  thee,  O  Zion,"  saith  the  Lord. 
"I  will  bring  precious  gifts  to  thee; 
My  word  shall  be  written,  my  law  shall  te  kept. 

And  my  house  be  a  refuge  free. 

My  temple  upbuilded  shall  te, 
Tlie  corner-stone  now  I   have  laid. 

.\nd  tiie  indwellers  there 

On  their  foreheads  shall  bear 
My  name  graved  in  letters  of  gold." 


THE  GOOD  PREVAILING.  4 1 

This  is  my  Sunday  letter,  written  in  the  silence  of  the 
afternoon.  I  submit  it  to  you.  feeling  that  it  is  lawful  to 
do  good  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

The  flowers  are  blooming,  the  birds  are  singing,  and 
all  is  delightful.  This  rest  was  provided  for  us  by  a  lov- 
ing Father  and  tender  Mother. 


LETTER   VII. 


THE  ATONEMENT—THE    GOD    OF  MOSES— THE    GOD 

OF  JESUS. 

Aiioriist,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger  :  — 

The  days  of  the  last  month  of  summer  are  fast  sHpping 
away.  The  browning  fields  and  drooping  limbs  of  the 
fruit-laden  trees  remind  us  that  the  harvest  is  near. 
Even  now  the  birds  are  beginning  to  sing  of  their  south- 
ward journey. 

The  large  garden  to  the  west  of  our  village  is  produc- 
ing more  than  its  usual  amount  of  seeds,  fruits  and  vege- 
tables. Potatoes  are  very  nice,  an  abundant  crop  com- 
ing in,  owing  to  the  long  war  with  their  fell  destroyers, 
the  little  emigrants  in  striped  cloaks,  which  ended  seem- 
ingly by  their  annihilation. 

All  the  people  are  busily  engaged  in  their  various 
occupations.  Thus  by  the  sweat  of  the  brow  are  we 
earning  the  bread  that  is  to  sustain  us  through  the  com- 
ing winter. 

"The  gods  help  those  who  help  themselves,"  and  even 


THE  ATONEMENT.  43 

as  the  hand  of  help  came  to  John  Bunyan's  Pilgrim  when 
he  was  in  trouble,  so  are  blessings  being  constantly 
strewn  in  our  pathway,  surrounded  as  we  are  at  all  times 
by  the  good,  the  pure,  and  the  beautiful. 

None  can  enjoy  the  beautiful,  even  in  material  things, 
like  the  virgin  spirit;  none  can -see  God  but  the  pure  in 
heart,  and  in  these  lovely  days  which  are  so  sweetly  pass- 
ing by,  we 

'■'•  Salute  you ;  earth  and  air  and  sea  and  sky, 
And  the  imperial  sun  that  scatters  down 
His  sovereign  splendors  upon  grove  and  town  !  " 

In  my  last  letter  to  you  I  spoke  of  the  house  founded 
upon  the  sands  of  the  atonement  of  Christ,  maintaining 
that,  from  the  light  in  which  we  view  the  subject,  it  must 
fall.  How  can  it  be  otherwise  if  it  is  a  false  theory?  If 
it  is  the  truth,  God  is  unjust. 

A  God  angry  with  a  world  of  people  that  he  himself 
had  created,  not  for  any  sins  of  their  own,  but  because 
their  first  father  and  mother  committed  one  sin,  and  he 
could  never  become  reconciled  to  any  of  them  unless 
another  God  should  be  willintr  to  be  born  into  the  world, 
grow  to  manhood  and  suffer  death  at  the  hands  of  these 
same  people !  Take  into  consideration  also  that  this 
angry  God  had  before  made  a  special  law  for  them, 
"Thou  shalt  not  kill."  How  could  a  father  coolly  pro- 
pose for  his  children  to  break  the  laws  that  he  had  given 
them,  and  then  punish  them  eternally  for  doing  so? 

We  do  not  believe  that  Jesus  taught  any  such  doctrine, 
and  we  also  know  that  the  God  of  Love  that  he  repre- 


44  THE  ALETHEIA. 

sented  was  a  being  very  different  from  the  God  revealed 
to  the  people  by  Moses.  The  life  that  Jesus  lived  was 
far  in  advance  of  that  degree  of  civilization  that  his 
brethren,  the  Jews,  had  attained,  and  they  cruelly  put 
him  to  death,  he  in  his  dying  moments  declaring,  "They 
know  not  what  they  do." 

He  said  to  his  followers,  "  I  am  the  Resurrection  and 
the  Life,"  showing  plainly  that  if  we  would  become  one 
with  him,  we  must  follow  his  example  in  all  things,  liv- 
ing the  life  that  he  lived. 

He  looked  into  the  future  and  saw  that  light  and 
knowledge  would  increase,  and  that  his  followers  would 
do  even  greater  works  than  he  had  done. 

There  are  many  who  believe  that  Jesus  will  some  day 
come  in  the  literal  clouds,  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead  will 
arise  from  their  graves.     That  day  will  never  dawn. 

"  He  cometh  not  a  king  to  reign, 
The  world's  long  hope  is  dim  ; 
The  weary  centuries  watch  in  vain 
The  clouds  of  heaven  for  him." 

But  the  spirit  of  Christ  is  always  near,  if  we  will  but 
believe  and  obey.  Let  us,  therefore,  open  our  hearts  to 
receive  that  love  that  will  save  us  from  committing  sin, 
the  lovely  Christ  Spirit,  sent  to  us  by  our  Heavenly 
Father  and  Mother — God. 

"  At  morn  I  prayed,  I  fain  would  see 
How  Three  are  One  and  One  is  Three ; 
Read  the  dark  riddle  unto  me." 


ELDRESS    DOKOTHV    ANN    DUKGIN. 
East  Canterbury,  N.  H. 


To  the  Surest  and  the  Purest   I  would  give  my  life  away. 


LETTER   VIII. 


NE  W  CENTER  D  WEL  LING  —  S CHO  OL  —  NA  THAN  MER- 
RILL AND  THE  FOUNDERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY— 
ELDER    OTIS  SAWYER. 

November,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger :  — 

Since  writing  you  last  a  number  of  months  have  rolled 
their  course.  Business  has  been  very  active  in  our  com- 
munity, but  we  are  now  thinking  of  settling  down  to  pass 
the  winter  in  our  cosy  apartments.  Thanksgiving  is  at 
hand.  The  sun  is  nearing  its  southern  terminus,  bring- 
ing Christmas  with  all  its  pleasant  associations. 

The  new  house  which  was  not  to  be  seen  one  year  ago 
at  this  time  stands  as  a  beautiful  monument  in  our  vil- 
lage. The  garden-house  where  the  seeds  are  dried  and 
the  garden  tools  stored  has  been  repaired  the  past  sum- 
mer. It  looms  up  like  a  splendid  cottage  on  the  western 
hill.  The  workmen  have  left,  from  the  master-builders 
down  to  the  hod-carriers,  excepting  two  carpenters. 

The  long  term  of  school  has  commenced,  to  continue 
until  March.     Each  forenoon  and  afternoon,  at  the  regu- 


46  THE  ALETHEIA. 

lar  hours,  we  hear  the  Httle  bell,  calling  the  youth  and 
children  together  in  the  schoolhouse,  which  is  nicely 
fitted  up,  north  of  the  village,  west  side  of  the  street. 
Mulberry  trees  are  set  around  the  building,  which  will  in 
future  days  become  a  beautiful  grove. 

In  passing  the  schoolhouse  door,  we  hear  the  happy 
voices  of  little  boys  and  girls  in  recitations  or  singing, 
also  the  music  of  the  pencil  upon  the  slate  and  the 
crayon  upon  the  blackboard. 

We  are  often  invited  to  the  school  exhibitions,  which 
are  very  interesting.  Then  the  little  students  vie  with 
each  other  to  show  the  amount  of  diligence  with  which 
they  have  studied  ;  striving  with  hard  questions  upon  the 
blackboard,  speaking  dialogues,  poetry,  and  even  deliver- 
ing orations,  generally  ending  with  music.  Words  of 
encouragement  and  good  cheer  and  often  small  presents 
are  then  given  to  our  dear  little  ones  by  their  guardians 
and  friends. 

Our  present  teachers  have  been  brought  up  from 
children  and  educated  in  this  community.  The  school 
stands  upon  an  even  basis  with  the  other  schools  in  New 
Gloucester,  and  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  Superin- 
tending School  Committee  of  the  town.  Children  out- 
side of  the  Society  who  live  near  attend,  and  their  parents 
seem  to  be  well  pleased  with  the  progress  they  make. 

Just  one  hundred  years  ago  the  fourteenth  day  of  this 
month,  the  first  inhabitant  of  this  place  was  converted  to 
Shakerism.  His  name  was  Nathan  Merrill.  Within  a 
fortnight  of  that  time,  nearly  all  the  families  around  came 


FOUNDERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY.  47 

into  this  sacred  union.  In  many  cases  a  man's  foes  be- 
came those  of  his  own  household,  for  a  man  was  set  at 
variance  against  his  father,  and  the  daughter  against  her 
mother,  and  the  daughter-in-law  against  the  mother-in- 
law. 

These  were  exciting  days,  and  a  goodly  number  from 
each  family  came  into  the  joint  relation.  They  could  not 
close  their  ears  to  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  which 
was  sounding  in  trumpet  tones,  "  He  that  loveth  father 
or  mother  more  than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me,  and  he 
that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than  me  is  not  worthy 
of  me.  And  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross  and  followeth 
after  me  is  not  worthy  of  me." 

These  good  fathers  and  mothers  have  long  since  passed 
on  to  those  lovely  mansions,  made  without  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens.  Many  of  them  lived  to  extreme  old  age. 
In  early  youth  I  was  conversant  with  about  fifty  of  them, 
and  had  them  for  my  instructors.  They  had  brought 
their  lives  under  such  strict  discipline  that  no  trial,  how- 
ever severe,  could  disturb  the  serenity  of  their  spirits.  I 
have  seen  them  grieved  but  never  rufifled. 

Last  evening  I  visited  a  library  containing  a  copy  of 
each  book  published  by  this  Order  since  it  was  founded. 
It  consists  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  volumes,  with 
their  revised  editions. 

These  books  have  been  collected  and  numbered,  and 
the  library  set  in  order  for  the  reception  of  other  books 
that  may  be  published  by  the  untiring  efforts  of  Elder 
Otis    Sawyer.       Future    generations   will    look   upon   his 


48       ,  THE  ALETHEIA. 

works  and  call  him  blessed.  In  the  way  that  Solomon 
built  the  Temple  and  that  God  made  the  world,  so  has 
he  built  the  house  that  hath  been  reared  in  the  midst  of 
our  village  the  past  season.  He  said,  "  Let  it  be  done," 
and  it  was  done. 

The  storms  of  winter  are  approaching.  Their  harbin- 
gers have  already  been  here,  following  a  long  and  beauti- 
ful Indian  summer,  which,  we  trust,  has  been  enjoyed  by 
all. 


LETTER   IX. 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   SHAKERS. 

January,  1884. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger  :  — 

To-day  I  find  myself  seeking  out  the  beginning  of 
Shakerism.  The  first  thought  draws  me  to  a  company  of 
French  prophets  who  went  into  England  in  the  year  sev- 
enteen hundred  and  six.  They  taught  a  high  and  pure 
religion,  preparatory  to  a  greater  work  that  was  to  follow. 

Those  French  prophets  extended  their  warnings  over 
the  greater  part  of  Europe.  The  few  who  went  into 
England  drew  many  into  their  ranks.  They  formed  no 
regular  Societies  until  about  the  year  seventeen  hundred 
and  forty-seven,  when  a  small  Society  was  organized  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Manchester,  under  the  leadership  of 
Janies  and  Jane  Wardley.  They  were  very  powerful 
ministers,  and  taught  the  confession  of  sin  and  purity  of 
life. 

In  their  meetings  the  people  had  wonderful  manifesta- 
tions of  divine  power,  swiftly  passing  and  repassing  each 
other  like  clouds   agitated  with  a  mighty  wind.       From 

7 


50  THE  ALETHEIA. 

these  exercises  they  received  the  appellation  of  Shakers, 
a  very  appropriate  name,  for  the  Lord  hath  said,  "All  the 
men  that  are  on  the  face  of  the  earth  shall  shake  at  my 
presence,"  etc. 

When  this  little  Society  was  organized,  Ann  Lee,  our 
Mother,  was  eleven  years  of  age,  but  did  not  unite  with 
these  people  until  she  was  twenty-two.  She  had  been  a 
very  peculiar  child  from  infancy,  serious  and  thoughtful, 
not  addicted  to  play  like  other  children.  She  often  told 
of  having  visions  of  supernatural  things.  Her  mother 
was  a  good  woman,  able  to  instruct  and  guide  her,  but 
she  died  when  Ann  was  quite  young,  and  left  her  with 
no  one  to  depend  upon  for  help.  She  was  early  married 
to  Abraham  Stanley  and  had  four  children  ;  but  they  all 
died  in  infancy  except  one  little  girl,  who  attained  the 
age  of  six  years. 

In  her  married  life  she  found  nothing  but  condemna- 
tion and  sorrow,  although  her  husband  was  very  kind 
and  attentive  to  her.  She  felt  a  yearning  for  a  higher 
life,  and  the  burden  of  sin  and  the  depravity  of  human 
nature  lay  heavily  upon  her.  She  found  some  release- 
ment  by  uniting  with  James  and  Jane  Wardley,  strictly 
adhering  to  their  counsel  and  living  up  to  the  light  of 
their  Society. 

The  religious  exercises  of  this  little  band  stirred  up  the 
opposition  of  the  people  around  them,  and  they  were 
severely  persecuted  and  often  imprisoned,  our  Mother 
receiving  her  share  with  the  rest. 

About  this  time  Oliver  Goldsmith  was  writing  "The 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  SHAKERS.  5  i 

Vicar  of  Wakefield."  In  order  to  become  acquainted 
with  the  condition  of  society  in  England  at  this  period  I 
refer  the  reader  to  that  book.  Those  who  excited  preju- 
dices by  differing  from  others  in  sentiment  or  action, 
could  expect  but  little  justice  and  were  often  unmerci- 
fully abused. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  seventeen  hundred  and  sev- 
enty that  our  Mother  was  imprisoned  in  Manchester, 
being  falsely  accused  by  her  enemies  of  breaking  the 
Sabbath.  After  a  scene  of  deep  tribulation  of  soul,  when 
her  way  was  seemingly  hedged  up  on  every  side,  and  she 
cried  mightily  to  God  for  deliverance,  the  rays  of  Divine 
Light  suddenly  broke  in  upon  her  spirit  and  the  Heavens 
of  Glory  were  spread  before  her  in  open  vision.  She 
saw  the  spirit  of  Jesus,  and  he  spoke  to  her  words  of  love 
and  comfort,  gave  her  a  mission,  assuring  her  of  divine 
protection  in  its  fulfillment,  and  revealed  to  her  those 
principles  upon  which  this  Order  has  been  founded, 
sacred,  eternal  and  true. 

When  she  was  released  from  prison  and  returned  to 
the  Society,  her  Elders,  James  and  Jane  Wardley,  imme- 
diately saw  that  she  had  received  light  superior  to  theirs, 
and  they  and  their  people  willingly  acknowledged  her  as 
their  leader.  From  this  time  onward  she  was  called 
"Mother"  by  her  faithful  followers.  It  has  been  said, 
that,  when  under  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  her  coun- 
tenance shone  with  the  glory  of  God,  and  her  form  and 
actions  appeared  divinely  beautiful  and  very  angelic. 
The  power  and  intluence  of  her  spirit,  at  such  times,  was 


52  THE  ALE  THE lA. 

great  beyond  description  ;    and  no  one  was  able  to  gain- 
say or  resist  the  authority  by  which  she  spoke. 

I  submit  this  letter  to  you,  trusting  that  the  message 
may  be  received,  and  with  the  prayer  that  the  day  may 
be  hastened  when  "The  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall 
cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 


MARY    AXX   (ilLLESFIE. 
Formerly  of  the  Maine  Ministry. 


Let  my  name  Ix;  recorded 

In  the  book  the  angels  keep, 
Where  each  act  is  rewarded 

And  the  seed  I  liave  sown  I  shall  reap. 
Then  when  the  Angel  Reaper  cometli. 

And  the  harvest  time  shall  be, 
1   shall  find  in  my    Father's  house 

There  's  a  mansion  reserved  for  me. 


LETTER  X. 


MPTHER   ANN'S  PERSECUTIONS  IN  ENGLAND. 

Editors  of  the  Messenger : — 

By  your  kindness  I  have,  transiently,  been  allowed 
space  in  your  columns.  Judging  the  future  by  the  past 
I  am  encouraged  to  look  for  a  continuation  of  the  same. 
Many  erroneous  opinions  are  extant  in  regard  to  the 
Shakers,  and  it  is  but  fair  that  their  principles  should 
become  better  known.  Many  who  are  uninformed  are 
writing  about  them,  and  it  is  but  just  that  the  Shakers 
themselves  should  have  a  hearing.  As  I  said  in  a  former 
letter,  we  find  ourselves  to  be  best  liked  where  we  are 
best  known,  and  some  of  your  readers  may  desire  to 
become  better  acquainted  with  a  community  that  has 
prospered  and  gradually  grown  for  more  than  one  hun- 
dred years. 

Many  we  behold  who,  for  a  closer  walk  with  God,  have 
been  willing  to  forsake  father,  mother,  wife  and  children, 
houses  and  lands  and  their  former  lives,  and  have  in 
return,  even  now,  in  these  community  homes,  received 


54  THE  ALETHEIA. 

an  hundred  fold  of  fathers  and  mothers,  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, houses  and  lands,  and  all  the  song  of  their  souls  is: 

"  Nearer,  my  (iod,  to  'I'hee,  nearer  to  Thee  ; 
E'en  though  it  be  a  cross  that  raiseth  me." 

If  one  had  always  been  blind  and  had  never  seen  a 
sunbeam,  is  there  power  in  words  to  describe  it  so  that 
he  could  know  of  its  beauty?  If  one  had  always  been 
deaf  and  had  never  heard  the  song  of  a  bird,  is  there  a 
laiiguage  by  which  it  could  be  brought  perfectly  to  his 
understanding?  Even  so  words  fail  of  describing  the 
joys  of  the  redeemed  spirit. 

"  Alone,  O  love  inefifable, 

Thy  saving  name  is  given. 
To  turn  aside  from  thee  is  hell, 
To  walk  with  thee  is  heaven. 
"  Thy  litanies,  sweet  offices 
Of  love  and  gratitude  ; 
Thy  sacramental  liturgies, 
The  joy  of  doing  good." 

In  my  last  letter,  I  wrote  you  of  the  origin  of  the  Sha- 
kers ;  that  the  first  Society  was  established  in  the  year 
seventeen  hundred  and  forty-seven,  and  that  our  Mother, 
Ann  Lee,  became  its  leader  in  the  year  seventeen  hun- 
dred and  seventy. 

Her  mission,  calling  people  as  it  did,  away  from  the 
selfish,  private  family  life,  into  a  great  brotherhood  and 
sisterhood,  and  striking  a  deadly  blow  against  those 
indulgences  which  the  carnally  minded  so  much  desire, 
stirred  up  the  opposition  of  many,  and  caused  her  to 
have  relentless  enemies. 

Three  attempts  were  made  to  take  her  life  while  she 


MOTHER  ANN'S  PERSECUTIONS.  55 

remained  in  England.  Once  she  was  locked  in  a  prison, 
and  kept,  as  her  enemies  thou«-ht,  without  food  for  four- 
teen days,  with  the  intention  of  starving  her.  One  of 
her  followers,  James  Whittaker,  whom  we  now  call 
Father  James,  then  a  youth,  went  each  night  after  the 
first  and  put  the  stem  of  a  pipe  through  the  key-hole  of 
the  door,  and  into  the  bowl  of  the  pipe  poured  wine  and 
milk,  by  which  our  Mother  received  nourishment  that 
sustained  her.  It  was  with  astonishment  that  her  ene- 
mies saw  her  walk  off  with  so  much  strength  when  they 
unlocked  the  door  at  the  end  of  the  fourteen  days, 
expecting  to  find  her  dead. 

At  another  time  they  accused  her  of  blasphemy,  and 
caused  her  to  have  a  trial  before  four  ministers  of  the 
Established  Church,  hoping  that  they  would  condemn 
her  to  have  her  tongue  bored  through  with  a  hot  iron.  I 
am  aware  that  this  is  dreadful  to  speak  of  in  these  days, 
but  great  cruelty  prevailed  at  that  time. 

The  ministers  requested  to  hear  her  speak,  and  she 
spoke  with  such  power  that  they  dismissed  her  at  once, 
and  advised  her  accusers  to  let  her  alone. 

This  enraged  them  to  such  a  degree  that  they  deter- 
mined to  take  the  power  of  judgment  into  their  own 
hands.  They  agreed  to  stone  her  for  blasphemy,  and 
led  her  into  a  valley.  Some  of  her  people  followed  and 
kept  near  her.  Then  her  accusers  took  their  places 
upon  the  hill  opposite  and  commenced  to  throw  stones, 
but  missed  their  aim  in  every  instance  except  one.  One 
of  the   brethren  was   slightly  injured.       In   a  short  time 


56  THE  ALETHEIA. 

those  men  began  to  quarrel  with  each  other  and  dis- 
persed, leaving  our  Mother  and  her  people  to  return  in 
peace  to  their  homes.  In  relating  these  circumstances 
to  some  of  the  believers  she  said:  "While  they  were 
throwing  their  stones  I  felt  myself  surrounded  with  the 
presence  of  God,  and  my  soul  was  filled  with  love.  I 
knew  they  could  not  kill  me,  because  my  work  was  not 
done ;  therefore  I  felt  joyful  and  comfortable,  while  my 
enemies  felt  distress  and  confusion." 

Those  were  days  when  persecution  walked  rampant ; 
when  life  was  often  taken  in  punishment  for  the  expres- 
sion of  a  religious  opinion.  But  at  that  same  time  a 
home  was  being  prepared  in  the  wilderness  of  America, 
where  freedom  of  thought  could  be  tolerated,  and  "To 
the  woman  were  given  two  wings  of  a  great  eagle,  that 
she  might  fly  into  the  wilderness,  into  her  place." 


ELDER    WILLIAM    Dl'MONT. 
Sabbathday  Lake,  Maine. 


'■  Who  will  walk  in  the  midst  of  the  flame 

When  the  gospel  fire  is  burning? 
Who  will  endure  to  be  made  wholly  pure 
Without  one  shadow  of  turning?"" 


LETTER   XI. 


ROYALS  RIVER  — NOBLE  PIONEERS  OF  THE  TOWN- 
FIRST  SHAKER  MEETING  IN  NEW  GLOUCESTER 
—  ELDER  ELISHA  POTE  — DEATH  OF  ELDER  OTIS 
SAWYER— VISION  OF  MOTHER  ANN. 

May,  1884. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger :  — 

This  morning  the  mist  is  rising  from  the  water-courses 
and  encircling  the  distant  hills.  Northeast  of  our  village 
we  can  trace  Royal's  river  through  the  "Woods  of  Pine," 
by  the  billow  of  mist  which  hangs  over  it,  as  it  finds  its 
way  to  the  sea  by  a  zigzag  course. 

"  The  winding  way  the  serpent  takes, 
The  mystic  river  toolc," 

as  in  all  the  years  that  are  past  it  has  borne  the  overflow 
of  Sabbathday  Lake  along  through  the  green  fields  and 
meadows,  around  the  hills  and  over  the  pasture  lands, 
until  it  reaches  the  ocean  at  Yarmouth,  eighteen  miles 
from  this  place. 

Up   this    river   were   poled   on    rafts   the   families   and 

s 


58  THE  ALE  TH EI  A. 

goods  of  our  forefathers  in  the  fall  of  the  year  seventeen 
hundred  and  forty-two,  they  having  come  by  vessel  from 
Gloucester,  Mass.  The  first  settlement  was  then  made 
upon  the  sunny  slopes  of  those  hills. 

Until  the  time  of  this  intrusion,  the  winding  stream 
had  been  hurrying  on,  "  unvexed  by  the  wheels  of  indus- 
try," since  that  far-distant  day  when  it  was  first  called 
into  being  by  the  "  Heart  of  Heaven." 

"  Come  forth,  O  Water  of  Serpents  ! 

In  sinuous,  gliding  grace 
Went  forth  the  queenly  river 

Unto  her  chosen  place. 
Then  called  he  the  youngest,  the  fairest. 

Step  softly,  AVater  of  Birds  ! 
And  the  silver-footed  brook  stole  out. 

Singing  songs  that  had  no  words  !" 

The  French  and  Indian  war  broke  up  this  settlement 
for  a  time.  Their  log-houses  were  destroyed  and  saw- 
mill burned  by  the  savages,  and  the  people  fled  back  to 
their  old  homes.  They  returned  in  the  spring  of  seven- 
teen hundred  and  fifty-four  and  built  a  fort  or  block- 
house, in  which  they  lived  six  years,  never  going  out 
unarmed. 

The  year  seventeen  hundred  and  sixty  brought  peace 
to  the  settlement.  The  old  homes  were  soon  restored, 
and  the  wilderness  was  made  to  blossom  as  the  rose. 

The  names  of  men  of  stern  integrity  adorn  the  escutch- 
eons of  this  town. 

William  Widgery  was  one  of  the  pioneers,  the  man 
who  was  obliged  by  his  charter  to  refuse  Marshal  Ney  a 


FIRST  SHAKER  MEETING.  59 

passage  to  America  in  his  vessel,  upon  the  downfall  of 
Napoleon. 

Isaac  Parsons,  represented  as  the  man  with  a  stern 
look,  built  the  first  frame-house,  which  is  still  standing ; 
and  O  how  sacredly  was  the  Sabbath  observed  in  that 
house!  His  descendants  are  among  the  most  respect- 
able people  living  around  us. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Foxcroft  was  the  Puritan  minister, 
who  for  many  years  dispensed  the  word  of  God  to  a 
united  people,  required  by  law  to  attend  to  his  teachings. 
When  he  laid  down  his  charge  in  the  year  seventeen 
hundred  and  ninety-three  it  was  with  sorrow  he  saw  his 
flock  scattered,  freedom  of  conscience  leading  each  man 
his  own  way. 

The  first  Shakers  came  to  New  Gloucester  in  Novem- 
ber, seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  held  meet- 
ings in  the  western  part  of  the  town.  Their  first  meeting 
was  held  in  the  house  of  Gowen  Wilson,  Sr.,  which  was 
situated  in  the  field  just  south  of  our  large  garden,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road.  Elisha  Pote,  a  young  man 
from  Gorham,  Maine,  took  the  lead  in  speaking.  He 
had  lately  become  a  convert  to  the  Shaker  faith.  His 
reasonings  were  clear  and  convincing,  and  his  voice  mild 
and  persuasive. 

Many  believed  the  new  doctrine,  and  the  Shakers  have 
occupied  this  ground  from  that  day  until  the  present 
time. 

The  Society  was  organized  on  the  nineteenth  of  April, 
seventeen    hundred    and    ninety-four.      The    Society    at 


6o  THE  ALETIIEIA. 

Alfred,  Maine,  had  been  organized  a  short  time  previous, 
and  another  Society  in  the  town  of  Gorham  soon  after. 

EHsha  Pote  afterwards  became  the  spiritual  leader  of 
the  three  Maine  Societies,  and  occupied  that  place  many 
years.  He  died  at  a  great  age,  widely  known  and 
respected  by  all. 

His  second  successor  was  our  well-beloved  Elder  Otis 
Sawyer,  who  in  the  month  of  March,  the  present  year, 
went  over  to  dwell  in  the  Paradise  of  God,  the  "  House 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens."  Like  a 
beautiful  cloud  he  moved  from  our  sight,  but  the  Com- 
forter cometh.  .  Upon  the  wings  of  the  morning  are 
wafted  these  words  to  the  sorrowing  ones,  "Peace  I 
leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you :  not  as  the 
world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you;"  "and,  lo,  I  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end." 

Why  should  we  mourn  when  he  is  with  us  nearer  than 
before,  when  he  is  leading  us  in  green  pastures,  and 
beside  the  still  waters?  His  pure  and  refined  spirit  has 
become  one  with  Christ,  even  as  Christ  is  one  with  the 
Heavenly  and  Eternal  Father  and  Mother. 

I  will  here  add  an  item  further  in  regard  to  that  ocean 
voyage  of  Ann  Lee  and  her  people.  As  I  wrote  you  in 
a  former  letter,  the  ship  which  brought  them  came  very 
near  sinking  in  mid-ocean  with  all  on  board,  and  was 
saved  by  a  miracle.  At  that  time  the  people  of  America 
were  commencing  the  struggle  for  independence.  The 
Angel  of  the  Lord  was  seen  by  our  Mother,  passing  on 
in  advance  of  the  ship,  singing  with  a  mighty  voice: 


ELDER    OTIS    SAWYER. 
Formerly  Bis/top  of  the  Soeieties  in  Maine. 


"Like   unto   the   grandeur  of  the   eastern    clouds    when   the  sun   is    rising,   so  is  the 
redeemed  spirit." 


VISION  OF  MOTHER  ANN.  6i 

"  From  the  Heaven  of  Heavens 
O'er  sea  and  land  I  fly, 
Crying  sweet,  sweet  liberty  ! 
Peace,  peace  upon  earth, 
The  hand  of  the  Lord 
Has  freed  America. 
O  bless  this  blessed  day. 
Your  freedom,  freedom  claim  ; 
And  prepare  ye,  all  people. 
Salvation  to  gain." 


IN    THE    WOODS    OF    PINE. 


Beautiful  trees  of  the  primitive  forests. 

Oft  in  your  shades  I  'm  delightfully  led, 
Culling  the  wild  flowers,  resting  in  green  bowers, 

Where  to  my  feet  a  rich  carpet  is  spread. 

Music  of  warblers  free  everywhere  greets  me, 

Blending  in  harmony's  unwritten  song; 
So,  from  the  depths  profound,  chanting  a  merry  round. 

Onward  the  ocean-bound  brook  glides  along. 

Wonderful  trees  with  your  branches  extending, 
Casting  your  shadows  and  shedding  your  dew, 

Moved  by  the  breezes,  dependently  bending, 
Gratefully  clouds  pass  their  shadows  o'er  you. 

Mighty  in  strength,  wealth,  and  pride  of  the  nation, 
Waving  in  grandeur  o'er  mountain  and  plain. 

If  ye  could  speak,  't  would  be,  "Check  the  strong  axe-man, 
Save  and  protect  us,  ye  powers  of  Maine." 

Thus  the  great  Pine  Tree  State  may  by  an  effort 

Rescue  the  forests  by  which  she  is  blest. 
Finding  in  recompense  treasures  of  excellence, 

Richer  by  far  than  the  mines  of  the  West. 

Beautiful  trees  of  the  primitive  forest, 

O  how  delightful  to  walk  in  your  shade, 
Culling  the  wild  flowers,  resting  in  green  bowers. 

Where  under  foot  a  rich  carpet  is  laid  ! 


KI.DKR    ABRAHAM    PFiRKINS. 

[Age,  qo  years.] 
Formerly  Bishop  of  the  Societies  in  New  Hampshire  and  Maine. 

O  teauteous  resurrection  morn  ! 
My  spirit  unto  thee  is  born  ;  ^ 

Thy  elements  I  love. 
Thy  air  I  breathe,  in  thee  I  live, 
The  substance  lost  1  now  retrieve. 

Which  opens  heaven  above, 

The  worlds  of  light  above. 


LETTER   XII. 


PROTESTATION  /. 

August,  1884. 
Editor  of  The  Increasing  Light :  — 

Before  me  is  one  of  your  papers  containing  an  article 
in  regard  to  our  people.  The  writer  says  that  he 
strained  his  understanding  long  and  earnestly  to  get 
clear  on  a  certain  point,  and  that  he  failed  of  satisfac- 
torily finding  out,  when  he  attended  our  meeting  on  the 
Sabbath  of  the  twenty-second  of  July.  If  he  will  lend  us 
his  attention  a  few  moments  we  will  enlighten  him,  but 
will  first  say  that  we  notice  several  mistakes  in  his  com- 
munication to  which  we  greatly  demur;  and  as  we  desire 
that  our  principles  should  become  better  known  to  those 
outside,  it  may  be  well  to  give  your  readers  the  other 
side  of  the  story. 

I  attended  the  meeting  of  which  he  writes,  but  did  not 
hear  the  gloomy  things  he  tells  about.  "  But  this  we 
confess  unto  you  that  after  the  way  which  they  call 
heresy,  so  worship  we  the  God  of  our  fathers,"  believing 


64  THE  ALETHEIA. 

in  the  inspired  word.  From  my  standpoint  it  was  the 
worship  of  God  in  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Our  reverend 
Elder  stood  before  us,  his  silvery  locks  and  goodness  of 
heart  entitling  him  to  our  love  and  respect,  while  he 
nobly  held  forth  the  word  from  a  soul  overflowing  with 
love  to  God  and  humanity.  "Thou  shalt  rise  up  before 
the  hoary  head,  and  honor  the  face  of  the  old  man  and 
fear  thy  God;   I  am  the  Lord." 

We  do  not  believe  in  the  Trinity.  To  us  God  is 
Father  and  Mother  and  has  been  from  the  beginning. 
In  this  we  are  sustained  both  by  the  Scriptures  and 
reason.  Jesus  was  an  inspired  man,  Ann  Lee  was  an 
inspired  woman.  Christ  is  the  Anointing  Power  that  all 
may  receive.  Inasmuch  as  Jesus  became  the  Christ  and 
as  Ann  Lee  became  the  Christ,  so  may  all  be  in  posses- 
sion of  the  same  spirit  to  that  degree  which  they  make 
themselves  worthy  by  good  works. 

We  know  that  all  can  not  be  Shakers,  and  we  have 
great  respect  for  those  parents  who  bring  up  their  chil- 
dren "in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord."  We 
have  no  sympathy  with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness. 
We  claim  that  the  generative  life  is  not  the  highest  life. 
The  example  that  Jesus  set  we  strive  to  follow. 

The  celebrated  veteran,  Frederick  Douglass,  attended 
the  meeting  in  c^uestion.  He  was  staying  at  Poland 
Mineral  Springs  for  his  health,  and  gave  us  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  him  in  the  audience.  This  circumstance  tended 
to  carry  our  feelings  back  to  those  turbulent  days  through 
which  our  country  passed  and  triumphed. 


ELDER    JOSHUA    HUSSELL. 
Alfred.  Maine. 


'•  Deep  the  river  of  life  that  's  flowing. 

Gently  gliding  serene  and  grand ; 
Oh,  the  beauty  of  its  crystal  waters ! 

Laving  the  shores  of  tlie  promised  land. 
Sailing  along  on  its  peaceful  lx)som 

Are  kindred  souls,  a  liappy  band, 
Filled  witli  songs  of  joy  and  rejoicing 

As  tiiey  near  tlie  promised  land." 


PROTESTATION  I.  65 

As  we  would  lightly  pass  over  the  ridicule  of  the 
thouehtless  so  would  we,  like  Phocion  of  old,  scorn  the 
applause  of  the  giddy  multitude;  but  we  love  goodness 
wherever  it  is  found,  and  we  love  our  Shaker  brothers. 
They  are  worthy  of  our  confidence  and  trust. 


LETTER   XIII. 


PROTESTATION  II. 

August,  1884. 
Editor  of  the  People  s  News  :  — 

In  your  paper  of  Saturday  was  a  letter  entitled, 
"Among  the  Believers,"  and  the  thought  struck  me 
that  you  might  give  a  place  in  your  columns  to  a  letter 
from  one  of  the  Believers. 

In  view  of  Sabbathday  Lake,  in  view  of  the  green 
slopes  and  in  the  shade  of  the  round-topped  apple  trees, 
I  am  writing  to  you  this  sultry  August  day. 

Yesterday  was  Sunday,  and  the  "Little  Church"  was 
fCrowded.  Many  came  from  Poland  Springs,  two  miles 
distant  on  the  north.  Auburn,  Lewiston  and  Portland 
were  also  represented  in  the  audience.  All  here  to  wit- 
ness the  worship  of  this  peculiar  people.  Why  peculiar? 
Because  they  have  dared  to  differ  from  others.  In  look- 
ing round  upon  the  people  who  filled  our  church,  we 
could  not  help  observing  how  many  there  were  who  saw 
us  only  in  the  light  in  which  we  were  viewed  by  the  lady 


PR  O  TESTA  TION  II.  6  7 

whose  letter  appeared  in  your  Saturday's  paper.  But 
there  was  a  class  there  who  saw  things  differently  —  who 
saw  nobility  and  dignity  in  the  Shaker  brothers,  who  saw 
loveliness  and  beauty  in  the  Shaker  sisters'  dress,  which 
was  not,  my  friend,  "selected  with  a  view  to  its  ugli- 
ness " ;  that  is  a  mistake,  but  with  a  view  to  utility  and 
comfort.  "Your  tastes  are  perverted,"  said  our  good 
Elder  Frederick  Evans  to  one  who  failed  to  see  beauty  in 
the  Shaker  sisters'  dress.  "  Bad  diet  has  clone  it,  or  you 
have  been  wrongly  educated." 

Communications  are  often  published  in  the  secular 
papers  in  regard  to  the  Shakers,  written  by  those  who 
understand  but  little  of  our  principles  or  manner  of  life, 
in  which  we  find  wide  deviations  from  the  truth,  and 
we  desire  a  hearing.  We  have  been  with  you  one  hun- 
dred years,  and  yet  are  in  a  great  measure  unknown  to 
you. 

The  writer  says  that  the  Shaker  brothers  are  honest. 
All  that  they  sell  proves  to  be  just  what  they  represent, 
and  with  the  next  breath,  that  the  rhythm  of  their 
motions  indicates  "We  are  nothing,  less  than  nothing. 
An  honest  man  nothing  but  a  dream !  To  me  the 
rhythm  of  their  motions  means,  "We  are  the  noblest 
work  of  God  !  " 

Now  let  us  inform  you,  who  see  so  little  to  admire  in 
the  pure  life  the  Shakers  lead,  that  we  often  see  as  much 
in  your  lives,  in  your  beliefs  and  in  your  manner  of  dress 
that  seems  strange  and  unaccountable  to  us,  as  you  can 
possibly  see  in  ours  that  seems,  strange  and  unaccount- 


68  THE  ALETHEIA. 

able  to  you.     But  we  will  wait  for  the  future  to  weigh 

all  things,  knowing  that  the  truth  will  finally  prevail. 

"  God's  ways  seem  dark,  yet  soon  or  late 
They  touch  the  shining  hills  of  day ; 
The  evil  cannot  brook  delay, 
The  good  can  well  afford  to  wait ; 

Give  ermined  knaves  their  hour  of  crime, 
Ye  have  the  future,  grand  and  great, 
The  safe  appeal  of  truth  to  time." 


FATHERS   AND    MOTHERS,   AN    HUNDRED 
FOLD   GREETING. 


[From  the  Manifesto P^ 

New  Gloucester,  April,   1884. 

You  whose  spirits  are  replete  with  that  perfect  love 
which  casteth  out  fear,  in  you  is  found  that  charity  which 
never  faileth,  binding  up  the  broken-hearted,  strengthen- 
ing the  weak,  and  comforting  the  afBicted.  In  you  is 
found  that  power  which  healeth  the  sick  of  sin,  casteth 
out  the  spirits  of  evil,  and  giveth  sight  to  those  who  are 
blinded  to  the  true  light  and  life. 

By  giving  up  all  you  have  received  all.  For  every  sac- 
rifice that  you  have  made  of  selfish  pleasures,  an  hundred 
fold  of  spiritual  blessings  has  filled  your  cup  to  overflow- 
ing, and  the  pathway  in  which  you  walk  is  leading  you 
nearer  to  the  fountain  of  all  good,  nearer  and  nearer  to 
God. 

A  few  short  years  here  in  which  to  teach  your  disciples 
and  followers  to  do  as  you  have  done,  to  live  as  you  have 
lived,  and  then  the  real  home  in  the  Heaven  of  Glory  is 
opened  unto  you. 


■JO  THE  ALETHEIA. 

''  They  are  slipping  away,  these  sweet,  swift  years, 

Like  a  leaf  on  the  current  cast ; 
With  never  a  break  in  their  rapid  flow. 
We  watch  them  as  one  by  one  they  go 

Into  the  beautiful  past." 

And  one  by  one  you  go,  beloved,  into  the  beautiful 
future,  into  the  home  of  the  redeemed,  a  home  that  you 
have  made  your  own  by  a  travel  of  soul  away,  far  away 
from  sordid  passions ;  redeemed  from  all  that  is  not  of 
God. 

Like  the  lake  in  midsummer,  when  the  air  is  still,  so  is 
the  redeemed  spirit.  Like  unto  the  tree  clothed  with  the 
blossoms  of  spring,  and  like  unto  the  tree  laden  with  the 
ripe  fruits  of  autumn,  so  is  the  redeemed  spirit.  Like 
unto  the  grandeur  of  the  eastern  clouds  when  the  sun  is 
rising,  so  is  the  redeemed  spirit. 

In  the  school  of  Christ  you  have  been  disciplined,  by 
the  fire  in  Zion  you  have  been  tried,  until  like  the  gold  of 
Ophir  you  are  purified;  and  now  saith  the  Spirit,  "Ye 
shall  walk  with  me  in  white,  for  ye  are  worthy." 

From  this  high  estate,  let  your  blessing  descend  like 
the  dew  of  Hermon  into  the  hearts  of  your  faithful  chil- 
dren. Let  your  mantles  rest  upon  those  who  follow  in 
your  footsteps,  and  you  shall  be  more  than  satisfied  when 
the  books  are  opened,  and  your  eyes  behold  the  record 
of  those  whom  you  have  led  along  in  the  Highway  of 
Holiness. 


THE   CHRIST   OF  THE   AGES. 


CREEDS— BAPTISM— THE  EUCHARIST— EQUALITY  OF 
THE  SEXES— THE  BIBLE— THE  ARTS  AND  SCI- 
ENCES. 

[From  the  Manifesto. "l 

January  15,  1896. 

"  Ring  out  the  darkness  of  the  land, 
Ring  in  the  Christ  that  is  to  be." 

In  the  January  Humanitarian  is  a  communication  by 
Paul  Tyner,  entitled,  "The  Christ  Ideal  in  Shakerism." 
He  says  that  Mother  Ann  Lee  believed  that  the  spirit 
of  Jesus  came  to  her  when  she  was  in  prison  in  Man- 
chester, England.  No  doubt  it  was  Jesus,  the  Christ, 
for  from  that  time  she  was  clothed  with  the  Christ  as 
with  a  garment. 

In  the  prison,  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
years  ago,  principles  were  revealed  unto  her  which  the 
development  of  the  sciences  have  been  unable  to  over- 
throw, principles  that  will  stand  to  the  end  of  time. 

The  revelation  which  she  received  was  a  harvest  from 
the  generative  life.  Also  that  the  mission  of  Jesus  upon 
the  earth  was  to  teach  a  higher  life  to  those  who  were 
able  to  receive  the  doctrine. 


72  THE  ALETHEIA. 

When  she  returned  to  her  people  from  the  prison  she 
took  up  the  work  where  Jesus  had  left  it,  and  her  follow- 
ers were  not  of  the  world,  even  as  the  followers  of  Jesus, 
in  his  day,  were  not  of  the  world. 

In  the  Order  or  the  Community  which  she  founded, 
she  was  second  to  Jesus.  Jesus  was  the  first  to  teach 
the  higher  life,  Ann  Lee  was  the  second.  Both  were 
inspired  by  "The  Christ."  Our  Mother  being  second  to 
Jesus  in  the  Shaker  Order  was  the  cause  of  her  followers 
making  use  of  the  expression,  "  Christ  made  his  second 
appearance  in  Ann  Lee."  Christ  had  appeared  in  thou- 
sands before  our  Mother  lived,  and  also  before  the  days 
of  Jesus. 

New  truths  have  been  revealed  to  the  disciples  of 
Mother  Ann,  from  time  to  time,  ever  since  the  Shaker 
Order  has  been  established.  Our  brother,  Paul  Tyner,  is 
right  in  this.  Fast  upon  the  downfall  of  the  generative 
life  has  come  the  enlightenment. 

Creeds  have  fallen  before  the  Star  of  Revelation.  The 
Trinity  is  dethroned.  God  is  our  Heavenly  Father  and 
Mother.  The  atonement  by  the  death  of  Jesus  has 
passed  away. 

Baptism  by  water  is  supplanted  by  the  baptism  of  fire 
and  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Christ.  This  spiritual  fire  is  to 
consume  the  evils  inherent  in  the  human  soul,  the  tares. 
"There  is  a  fire  in  Zion,  and  a  furnace  in  Jerusalem." 

The  Eucharist  is  understood  to  be  received  by  living 
the  pure  life  which  Jesus  lived  —  typified  by  the  body 
and  blood,  which  means  the  life. 


ELDRESS    LIZZIE    NOVES. 
Sahhathday  Lake,  Maine. 


■  O  brighter  than  the  morning  star 

Is  the  heart  tliat  is  pure  and  free! 
And  tlie  Hght  that  "s  ever  glowing  there. 

The  star  of  purity. 
The  sun  shall  wane,  the  stars  go  down, 

And  reign  of  time  be  o'er, 
But  the  living  light  in  the  heart  that  's  pure 

Shall  shine  forever  more." 


EQUALITY  OF  THE  SEXES.  73 

Endless  punishment  is  also  routed,  and  an  angry  God 
is  no  more.  But  the  sinner  finds  punishment  enough. 
Each  must  atone  for  his  own  sins,  by  bringing  them  to 
the  light  and  forsaking  them  forever.  When  reforma- 
tion is  complete,  the  punishment  is  removed. 

Progression  after  death  is  also  established  —  a  travel  of 
the  soul  from  one  degree  of  grace  and  glory  to  another 
for  ever  and  ever.  A  soul  can  recede  from  God  after 
death,  yet  the  farther  he  gets  away,  the  harder  he  will 
find  it  to  return ;  but  return  he  must  sooner  or  later. 
Even  the  Parsees  bring  back  their  first  old  evil  one, 
Ahriman  and  his  rebellious  host.  After  being  purified 
by  fire  they  all  return  and  are  forgiven. 

In  the  vShaker  Community  woman  has  taken  her  place 
as  an  equal  with  man,  by  intellectual  if  not  by  physical 
strength.  Where  there  is  an  Elder,  there  is  also  an  Eld- 
ress ;  where  there  is  a  Deacon,  there  is  a  Deaconess, 
considered  equal  in  their  powers  of  government. 

The  Order  is  founded  upon  present  revelation  sus- 
tained by  the  inspired  Word.  God  is  as  able  and  willing 
to  reveal  his  will  to  man  to-day  as  he  was  two  thousand 
years  ago.  The  Bible  contains  much  that  is  inspired 
and  much  that  is  not,  but  God  has  placed  his  law  in  the 
hearts  of  his  people. 

A  Shaker  must  live  in  the  light,  he  must  walk  the 
straight  path  of  purity,  and  consecrate  himself  and  all 
that  he  has  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause ;  should  he 
depart  from  either  of  these  principles  he  ceases  to  be  a 
Shaker. 


74  THE  ALE  TB EI  A. 

The  arts  and  sciences,  in  a  future  day,  will  flourish 
under  the  patronage  of  those  living  the  highest  life,  the 
Shaker  life.  Heretofore  the  work  of  drawing  the  lines 
between  flesh  and  spirit  has  been  so  great  that  there  has 
been  no  time  to  give  to  any  other  thought  but  that  of 
watching  all  the  avenues  to  keep  out  the  evils  that  might 
enter  and  destroy  the  good  that  has  been  gained. 

In  the  new  heavens  and  new  earth,  all  that  is  pure  and 
elevating  in  art  and  the  sciences  will  be  understood  and 
appreciated. 


THY   WILL    BE    DONE. 


[From   the  Manifesto.~\ 

Is  there  any  reserve  in  this?  And  can  "Thy  kingdom 
come"  unless  the  will  of  God  is  done?  Are  we  able  to 
take  by  violence  and  hold  that  heavenly  kingdom,  which 
we  have  so  long  been  striving  to  obtain,  and  for  which  so 
many  have  fallen  in  the  fearful  struggle? 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  City,  the  New  Jerusalem, 
hath  come  down  from  God,  and  we  are  privileged,  spir- 
itually, to  walk  its  lovely  streets.  Here  wrangling  and 
confusion  are  very  much  out  of  place,  and  what  would  be 
our  appearance  in  soiled  and  ragged  garments  ?  Our 
spiritual  robes  cannot  be  clean  and  white  unless  we  live 
in  purity  in  thought,  word  and  deed. 

We  have  been  assured  that  there  are  angel  bands  who 
march  through  the  heavens,  and  surround  the  throne  of 
the  Highest.  How  could  these  be  held  together  unless 
there  was  perfect  order,  and  each  had  his  place  assigned 
him  and  kept  himself  in  it?  Do  they  not  cheerfully 
move  in  the  spirit  of  "Thy  will  be  clone"?  So  we  will 
cheerfully  resign  our  spirits,  and  follow  that  "cloud  by 


76  THE  ALE  TB EI  A. 

day  and  pillar  of  fire  by  nig^ht "  which  goes  before  the 
chosen  people,  as  they  travel  away  from  the  wilderness 
of  sin.  "The  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  man."  Believ- 
ing this,  we  find  God  in  our  union  with  his  saints.  Sep- 
arate our  spirits  from  them  and  we  are  lost,  like  wander- 
ing stars,  in  the  regions  of  darkness. 

"  He  that  overcometh  will  I  make  a  pillar  in  the  tem- 
ple of  my  God,  and  he  shall  go  no  more  out ;  and  I  will 
write  upon  him  a  new  name."  This  promise  is  for  us  if 
we  are  worthy ;  if  not,  others  will  take  our  places. 

Our  lives  are  required  at  our  hands.  Let  us  reserve 
nothing  for  self,  but  with  full  purpose  of  heart  resolve  to 
carry  out,  daily,  a  perfect  consecration,  and  realize  the 
hundred  fold  reward.  "  He  that  loseth  his  life  for  my 
sake  shall  find  it,"  saith  the  Christ. 


MAKV    ELLA    DOIGLAS. 


l^V/io  left  her  companions  at  Sabbathday  Lake  for  a  more  beauiifiil  liome  in  the  Spirit 
Land,  February  9,   1893. 


"  Sweet  Summer  Land,  O  Land  of  briglit  glory ! 
Thy  beautiful  fields  are  spread  out  before  me. 
Thy  verdant  groves,  and  thy  vineyards  fair, 
And  my  soul  exclaims,  'How  wonderful  they  are! 


ANGELS   OF  THE   NEW   DISPENSATION. 


[Read  in  our  meeting  for  Soul  Communion.] 

Behold  we  come !  Wafted  upon  the  zephyrs  from  the 
Elysian  fields  we  come  unto  you.  Glory  and  brightness 
are  in  our  wake,  and  the  beautiful  rivers  of  heavenly  love 
are  rolling  onward,  deluging  the  land  from  shore  to 
shore. 

Home  of  the  favored  and  blest!  Home  of  the  pure 
and  the  true!  We  came  unto  you  first;  we  came  unto 
you  in  the  early  dawn,  when  the  birds  sang  of  this  New 
Hope  that  is  now  being  established  by  the  scientific 
researches  of  the  day. 

Search  your  records,  for  laid  away  in  your  archives  are 
thousands  of  messages,  words  of  prophecy,  of  love,  and 
of  comfort,  which  we  brought  unto  you  before  we  went 
abroad  to  do  our  work  with  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
We  will  come  unto  you  again.  In  God's  good  time  we 
will  come. 

Hush !  breathe  not  a  thought  of  doubt  while  undergo- 
ing the  throes  of  a  mighty  change.  Not  one  jot  nor  one 
tittle  of  all  that  we  have  said  unto  you  shall  fail.     Your 


78  THE  ALE  THE  I  A. 

banner  shall  be  raised  on  high  ;  higher  than  ever  before 
shall  be  your  standard,  and  your  victory  shall  be  acknowl- 
edged by  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

Children  of  the  New  Hope,  look  well  to  the  path  in 
which  your  feet  are  found  to  be  walking,  for  on  the  plane 
of  nature  is  the  home  of  discord  and  strife.  We  can 
never  walk  with  you  there.  But  in  the  bower  of  purity 
and  spiritual  life  you  will  find  us.  Here  we  will  walk 
with  you,  and  talk  with  you,  and  sing  unto  you  the" 
beautiful  songs  of  the  redeemed  among  men. 

Listen  and  you  shall  hear  our  voices.  Come  near 
unto  us  and  we  will  draw  near  unto  you.  We  will  feed 
you  from  our  ambrosial  stores,  and  clothe  you  in  fine 
linen,  clean  and  white.  Come  unto  us  all  ye  that  labor 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  we  will  give  you  rest. 

Amen  and  amen. 


LETTER   TO   THE    EDITOR   OF  THE 
MANIFESTO. 


November,  1889. 
Elder  Henry  C.  Blinn :  — 

You  gave  us  from  your  diary  in  the  November  Mani- 
festo, such  a  graphic  account  of  your  journey  and  visit  to 
the  Western  Societies,  that  it  almost  seems  that  we  went 
along  with  you  on  that  delightful  tour.  You  were  very 
kind  to  write  this  up  for  us,  and  we  thank  you  from  our 
hearts. 

The  November  Manifesto  is  very  interesting  to  us. 
The  music,  "  Beautiful  Shore,"  awakens  memories  of 
loved  ones  who  have  gone  on  before,  and  are  now  enjoy- 
ing the  grandeur  and  beauty  of  that  heavenly  home ; 
while  our  homes  here  are  so  vividly  described  that  we 
cannot  but  feel  how  good  it  is  to  be  joined  to  all  that  is 
lovely,  pure,  and  true. 

Now  I  must  own  that  the  lesson  for  the  Bible  class  is 
what  has  drawn  me  out  to  write  you  this  letter.  It  will 
be  very  interesting  to  read  the  answers  to  the  questions, 
and  I  hope  a  goodly  number  of  pupils  will  respond,  and 
by  so  doing  be  a  credit  and  honor  to  their  kind  teachers. 


8o  THE  ALE  THE  lA. 

It  seemed  to  me,  good  Elder  Henry,  while  reading 
over  these  questions,  that  I  would  like  to  give  you  my 
ideas  in  regard  to  them,  although  they  may  greatly 
diverge  from  the  opinions  of  others. 

First  answer :  The  two  verses  of  Psalms,  used  as  a 
prayer,  that  to  me  are  the  sweetest  and  strongest,  are 
the  tenth  and  the  eleventh  verses  of  the  eighty-fourth 
Psalm:  "  For  a  day  in  Thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thou- 
sand," etc. 

Second:  Is  there  a  more  noble  act  of  self-sacrifice 
recorded  in  the  Old  Testament  than  that  made  by  Jeph- 
thah's  daughter,  when  she  yielded  herself  so  willingly, 
that  her  father  might  keep  the  rash  vow  he  had  made 
unto  the  Lord? 

Third :  As  the  opinion  of  an  individual,  I  would  say 
that  the  grandest  character  in  the  Old  Testament  is  the 
Prophet  Daniel.  The  purity  of  his  life  was  very  nearly 
like  that  of  Jesus.  He  lived  the  angel,  virgin  life,  ap- 
proaching divinity.  It  seems  that  Joseph  and  Job  were 
spotless  characters,  but  they  were  upon  the  plane  of 
nature. 

Fourth:  The  Book  of  Daniel  is  to  me  the  most  inter- 
esting book  of  the  Old  Testament,  notwithstanding  Rob- 
ert Elsmere  tells  us  it  is  a  fraud.  In  the  last  chapter  is 
the  sweetest  prophecy  of  all:  "  Blessed  is  he  that  wait- 
eth,  and  cometh  to  the  thousand,  three  hundred  and  five, 
and  thirty  days."  Has  that  time  come?  and  is  Daniel 
now  standing  in  his  lot,  at  the  end  of  the  days? 

Fifth :     Matthew,  eleventh  chapter,  commencing  at  the 


ELDER    HENRY    C.    BLINN. 
Bishop  of  the  Societies  in  New  Hampshire. 

"  Countless  millions  ages  hence 
Shall  sing  and  speak  the  praise 
Which  fills  tiie  iieait  and  moves  the  lips 
(Jf  saints  in  latter  days.'" 


HOME  MATTERS.  8 1 

twenty-eighth  verse:  "Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest,"  and  so  on. 
"And  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls,"  with  the  condi- 
tions. What  promise  could  be  more  comforting  to  the 
weary  ? 

Sixth :  Proverbs,  thirteenth  chapter,  sixth  and  sev- 
enth verses,  are  very  wise. 

Seventh :  The  forty-fifth  Psalm  is  most  joyous,-  and 
very  significant  to  the  followers  of  Mother  Ann  Lee : 
"  My  heart  is  inditing  a  good  matter,"  etc. 

I  must  now  come  down  from  this  heigrht  and  write  of 
home.  In  New  Gloucester  we  have  had  an  abundant 
crop  of  winter  apples,  very  fair  and  free  from  defects. 
Many  of  these  have  been  sold  at  a  good  price,  but 
enough  are  stored  with  other  fruits  and  vegetables  for 
future  use.  Thus  we  are  prepared  to  enter  the  cold 
season,  happy  in  the  anticipation  of  all  temporal  needs 
supplied,  while  the  loving  companionship  of  good  Broth- 
ers and  Sisters  crowns  the  whole  with  joy  unspeakable. 

Home  comforts  are  not  the  least  of  the  many  blessings 
bestowed  upon  us  by  our  Heavenly  Father  and  Mother. 


TRIBUTE   TO   ELDER   GILES   B.   AVERY* 


Brothers  and  Sisters  in    Christ:  — 

The  great  change  which  we  all  anticipate  has  come  to 
our  reverend  Elder  Giles.  No  more  will  he  stand  before 
us  as  of  old,  his  countenance  beaming  with  inspiration, 
hope  and  joy.  But  from  those  evergreen  shores,  by  faith 
we  still  hear  his  voice  and  feel  the  same  power  from  his 
overflowing  spirit. 

Long  years  ago,  when  ver)-  young,  I  remember  hear- 
ing Elder  Otis  Saw)'er  say,  "  I  have  received  a  letter 
from  an  angel  of  the  Lord." 

"And  who  might  that  angel  be?"  was  the  question 
propounded. 

He  answered,  "  Giles  B.  Avery  of  Mount  Lebanon,  N. 
Y."  That  was  before  either  of  them  took  their  later  spir- 
itual burdens. 

By  and  b)'  he  stood  before  us  as  one  of  the  leaders  of 
our  fair  Zion,   and  the   impression   was   strong:     There 


*  Of  the  Central  Ministry,  who  passed  away  from  earth  December  27, 
1890,  at  Watervliet,  N.  Y. 


GILES    H.    AVERV. 
"  77^1?  Angel  of  the  Lord.^ 


I  want  to  feel  my  spirit  blest, 
Find  for  my  soul  a  home  of  rest, 
And  my  union,  pure  and  strong. 
With  the  heavenly  orders  moving  on. 


TRIBUTE  TO  ELDER  GILES  B.  AVERY.  83 

stands  "the  angel  of  the  Lord."-     And  so  it  has  remained 

lip  to  this  day. 

There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight, 

It  is  not  far  away, 
And  there,  arrayed  in  garments  white, 

Our  Elder  walks  to-day. 
He  sends  to  us  a  blessing  pure, 

A  message  to  abide, 
O  Zion,  thou  wilt  stand  secure, 

For  God  is  on  thy  side. 


LE^n^ER  TO   COUNT   LEO   TOLSTOI.* 


Sabbathday  Lake,  Maine,  February,  1891. 
Dear  Friend  and  Brother  :  — 

Here  in  America  is  a  home  prepared  for  those  who 
desire  to  Hve  pure  Hves,  and  the  Christ  spirit  revealed 
throut^h  Ann  Lee  is  the  foundation  thereof,  and  the 
spirits  of  the  redeemed  administer  thereunto. 

The  indwellers  of  this  home  are  now  beholding  a  light 
on  the  distant  horizon.  It  is  the  light  from  your  strong- 
hold, and  it  can  never  be  quenched. 

Your  companion,  in  that  she  is  sacrificing  herself  to 
sustain  you  in  your  convictions  of  right  and  in  living 
them  out,  is  largely  endued  with  the  spirit  of  Christ. 
We  are  thankful  at  every  thought  that  you  have  such 
a  help  at  your  side,  and  also  that  your  daughter  Titiana 
is  proving  herself  worthy  of  such  a  father. 

In  bringing  to  light  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness, 
you  have  gone  to  the  depth  of  human  depravity,  as  Ann 
Lee  has  done  before  you. 


*  This  letter  was  suggested  by  reading  the  Kreutzer  Sonata,  and  was 
forwarded  to  Count  Leo  Tolstoi  at  Tula,  Russia,  by  Brother  Alonzo  Hol- 
lister  of  Mt.  Lebanon,  N.  Y. 


LETTER  TO  COUNT  LEO  TOLSTOI.  85 

"  She  stripped  a  carnal  nature 
Of  all  its  deep  disguise, 
And  laid  it  plain  and  naked 
Before  the  sinner's  eyes." 

You  have  done  the  same,  and  the  sinners  of  the 
nations  are  now  in  a  squirming  condition.  The  Word 
which  went  forth  from  Ann  Lee  one  hundred  years  ago 
has  now  gone  forth  from  you,  and  the  trumpet  gives  no 
uncertain  sound. 

Ann  Lee  arose  in  the  dawning  of  the  morning  and 
took  upon  herself  the  spirit  of  Christ,  the  same  spirit 
that  baptized  the  man  Jesus.  He  was  the  first  among 
many  Brethren.  She  is  the  first  among  many  Sisters. 
"And  this  is  the  name  wherewith  she  shall  be  called, 
'  The  Lord  of  our  Righteousness.' " 

The  women  of  the  nations  are  following  in  her  wake, 
asserting  themselves  equals  to  their  brothers,  both  in  the 
sciences  and  governments.  They  will  acknowledge  her 
and  confess  her  name  when  they  find  out  the  spirit  that 
is  leading  them. 

Jesus  was  administered  to  by  the  spirits  of  the  just. 
He  saw  them.  His  disciples  saw  them.  And  you,  dear 
friend,  have  a  mighty  host  around  you.  They  whisper  to 
your  spirit ;  you  listen  and  write.  They  lay  their  hands 
of  blessing  upon  you  ;   you  feel  and  receive. 

God's  people  everywhere  are  sending  you  their  love 
and  encouragement. 

Your  sister  in  the  cause  of  self-denial. 


jESUS— BUDDHA— THE   SERMON    ON   THE 

MOUNT. 


[From  the  Manifesto.'] 

In  The  Arena  for  March,  1892,  Charles  Schroder  asks 
the  question,  "Where  do  we  find  the  Christian  teachers 
of  any  sect,  creed,  or  denomination,  who  dare  to  preach 
and  Hve,  or  even  accept  this  grand  sermon  in  its  entire- 
ty?" If  he  should  visit  the  Shaker  Communities,  he 
would  find  a  people  who  do  accept  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount  as  their  guide,  whose  aim  is  to  control  their  lives 
by  its  teachings  in  every  respect.  He  would  find  in 
them  some  who  are  true  followers  of  Jesus,  The  Christ, 
and  who  have  in  reality  entered  "The  Path"  and  are 
walking  the  straight  and  narrow  way. 

During  the  six  hundred  years  from  Buddha  to  Jesus, 
spiritual  light  was  increasing,  and  Friend  Schroder  is 
right  in  ranking  the  teachings  of  Buddha  second  to 
those  of  Jesus. 

Both  of  these  great  teachers  opened  to  the  people  a 
"  Path,  which  the  vulture's  eye  hath  not  seen.  The 
lion's  whelps  have  not  trodden  it,  nor  the  fierce  lion 
passed  by  it." 


BUDDHA.  %-] 

"  Enter  the  path,"  said  Buddha,  to  those  who  would 
become  his  followers  (among  them  were  some  of  his 
nearest  relatives),  when  he  returned  from  the  wilderness, 
enliohtened.  illumined,  and  all  animal  passions  subdued. 

"Straight  is  the  gate  and  narrow  is  the  way  which 
leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it,"  said 
Jesus. 

In  all  the  ages  that  are  passed,  how  few  there  have 
been  who  have  entered  the  straight  and  narrow  way  and 
turned  neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left,  but  kept 
onward  and  upward  until  they  have  reached  the  heights 
for  which  they  started. 

These,  by  the  discipline  brought  to  bear  upon  their 
daily  lives,  have  found  their  spirits  purified,  all  selfish- 
ness eradicated,  and  every  evil  passion  subdued.  That 
it  can  be  done  has  been  proved  by  loyal  souls.  If  Friend 
Schroder  will  visit  Mt.  Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  East  Canterbury, 
N.  H.,  even  our  little  home  at  Sabbathda}-  Lake,  Maine, 
or  any  of  the  Shaker  Societies,  he  will  find  people  who 
lift  up  their  voices  in  denunciation  of  war,  and  all  the 
evils  of  the  day  and  also  of  the  night. 

It  is  not  because  their  number  is  small  that  they  are 
not  heard.  The  multitude  have  blinded  their  own  eyes 
and  stopped  their  own  ears.  They  will  not  see,  they  will 
not  hear. 


"THE   SHAKERS   AND   THEIR   HOMES."* 


[From   the  Manifestor^ 

Sabbathday  Lake,   Me.,  February,  1893. 
Brothers  and  Sisters  of  the  Highest  Life : — 

From  victory  to  victory  in  the  path  of  purity  you  have 
walked  from  youthful  days  until  the  present  time,  and 
now  as  said  the  beloved  apostle  so  can  you  say,  "We 
know  that  we  are  of  God,  and  the  whole  world  lieth  in 
wickedness." 

Elder  Giles  B.  Avery  once  said,  "Zion  is  the  working 
hands  of  God  in  the  world."  It  then  becomes  the  duty 
of  believers  to  "sow  light  till  the  world  is  aglow."  If  we 
fail  to  do  this,  others  may  arise  to  take  our  birthright, 
and  it  is  now  evident  that  light  is  greatly  needed  to  shine 
abroad  over  the  earth. 

Whenever  we  come  in  contact  with  those  outside,  we 
find  that  we  are  very  imperfectly  known  unto  them. 
The  questions  which  meet  us  at  every  turn  are  like 
these:  "What  is  your  religious  belief?"  "What  is  the 
difference  between  you  and  the  Quakers?"     "  Have  you 


By  Charles  Edson  Robinson. 


OUR    CHILDREN. 


"  THE  SHAKERS  AND  THEIR  HOMESr  89 

books  that  will  inform  us  of  your  history  and  manner  of 
life?" 

In  answer  to  the  last  question,  we  tell  them  that  we 
have  books,  large  and  small,  and  we  have  let  them  have 
a  great  many  written  by  those  of  long  spiritual  travel  and 
deep  theological  study  and  experience.  Thousands  will 
yet  arise  to  call  our  good  Father  F.  W.  Evans  blessed  for 
the  labors  from  his  brain  and  pen,  and. also  others  who 
have  toiled  in  the  same  field. 

But  "variety  is  the  spice  of  life,"  and  one  outside  of 
our  homes  has  written  an  interesting  series  of  articles,  in 
a  very  friendly  spirit,  giving  the  history  of  the  Order 
from  its  commencement ;  of  the  organization  of  the  Soci- 
eties, and  the  foundation  principles  by  which  they  are 
governed ;  also  biographical  reminiscences,  together  with 
illustrations  of  nearly  all  our  villages  and  some  of  our 
leading  members.  These  articles  have  appeared  during 
the  last  two  years  in  the  Manufacturer  and  Builder,  a 
magazine  published  in  New  York  City. 

The  work  has  been  revised  and  very  kindly  given  to 
us,  with  the  use  of  the  plates  for  the  illustrations,  by  the 
writer  of  the  series,  our  good  friend,  Charles  Edson  Rob- 
inson, who  it  seems  has  made  the  lives  of  God's  people  a 
.study,  and  is  himself  not  far  from  the  kingdom. 

At  a  sacrifice  of  time  and  labor,  the  work  is  now  being 
printed  and  put  into  book-form  by  Elder  Henry  C.  Blinn, 
editor  of  the  Manifesto.  His  reward  is  with  him,  to  give 
unto  the  people  according  as  their  subscriptions  to  the 
books  have  been. 


90  THE  ALETHEIA. 

In  our  correspondence  with  the  Brothers  and  Sisters 
of  the  different  Societies,  in  regard  to  the  work,  the  kind 
spirit  in  which  we  have  been  answered  has  filled  our 
hearts  with  thankfulness.  We  are  particularly  grateful 
for  the  approval  and  help  of  the  Elders  of  the  North 
Family,  Mt.  Lebanon.  It  is  our  hope  and  trust  that  in 
the  future  new  editions  of  and  additions  to  this  work  may 
be  made,  until  "the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  cover 
the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea."  Even  now  the 
tide  of  adversity  is  rolling  back  and  prosperity's  waves 
are  rolling  in. 

The  Voice  of  the  Spirit  will  be  heard  to  the  uttermost 

parts  of  the  earth. 

"  For  the  angels  are  coming  down  from  heaven, 
To  bless  the  people  anew, 
They  are  coming  with  rich  and  beautiful  gifts 
For  every  one  of  you." 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  SCHOOL  AT  SABBATHDAY 

LAKE. 


I  was  made  happy  this  afternoon  by  an  invitation  to 
visit  your  school.  I  find  that  it  has  been  a  very  profita- 
ble term  to  you.  The  improvement  that  you  have  made 
is  plainly  to  be  seen.  The  teachers  have  done  credit  to 
themselves,  and  the  pupils  are  a  credit  to  their  teachers. 

All  who  have  attended  here  this  winter  are  not  schol- 
ars, but  all  are  pupils.  x\ppearances  show  that  the  pupils 
have  been  trying  very  hard  to  become  scholars. 

Your  school-days  are  slipping  away,  term  after  term.. 

In  future  years  you  will  recall  these  days  as  the  happi- 
est period  of  your  lives,  and  the  very  sight  of  an  old 
book  that  you  used  in  school  will  send  a  thrill  of  de- 
light through  your  whole  being. 

As  you  advance  in  life,  you  will  sense  more  and  more 
the  sacrifices  that  your  teachers  have  made  for  you.  Of 
these  you  can  have  but  little  idea  now.  I  know  the  joys 
and  the  sorrows  of  a  teacher's  life.  I  know  the  hopes 
and  the  fears,  and  I  know  how  the  teacher  enters  into 
the  little  life  of  each  child  under  her  charge,  and  I  know 
how  it  hurts  her  to  take  away  your  merits.     But  I  hope 


92  THE  ALETHEIA. 

you  have  not  lost  your  merits.  I  hope  you  are  all  enti- 
tled to  prizes. 

You  are  going  out  into  the  spring  that  will  soon  be 
upon  us.  The  mayflowers  will  bloom  in  the  green  pas- 
tures, the  violets  and  buttercups  will  appear,  and  many 
pleasures  will  be  yours  as  you  roam  over  the  fields  of 
your  beautiful  home.  While  you  are  enjoying  all  this, 
do  not  forget  your  school-lessons,  but  let  them^  combine 
to  teach  you  to  be  good  men  and  good  women  in  all 
your  future  years. 

You  have  many  friends  who  are  watching  you  anx- 
iously. You  must  not  only  be  to  them  all  that  they 
expect,  but,  if  possible, -you  must  be  to  them  all  that 
they  desire. 

And  now  farewell  for  the  present.  I  hope  to  meet 
you  here  again  in  the  lovely  month  of  June.  Then  the 
birds  will  be  singing  in  a  thousand  tree-tops,  and  the 
orchards  and  gardens  will  be  blooming  in  beauty. 


INVOCATION. 


DELIVERED  AT  THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE  NEW  CEN- 
TER DWELLING,  THANKSGIVING  DAY,  /<? 


"Will  God  dwell  on  the  earth?" 

Behold,  the  Heaven  and  the  Heaven  of  Heavens  can 
not  contain  thee,  how  much  less  this  house  that  has 
been  built  unto  thy  name!  Yet  have  thou  respect  unto 
the  prayers  of  thy  people  this  day,  that  thine  eyes  may 
be  open  towards  this  house  in  all  coming  time.  For 
thou  hast  said,  "My  name  shall  be  there." 

Our  Heavenly  Father  and  Mother,  who  sustained  our 
parents  who  have  gone  before,  who  opened  a  way  for 
them  in  the  wilderness,  and  strengthened  their  hands  to 
build  up  this  beautiful  home  for  us  to  enjoy,  grant  that 
this  house  that  stands  on  the  site  of  the  one  they  reared 
may  be  a  continuation  of  the  same,  with  an  increase. 

Hear  thou  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  which 
ascends  to  thy  throne  this  day,  from  thy  consecrated 
and  devoted  people. 

Bless  thou  the  spirits  of  the  fathers  and  mothers  who 
have  laid  down  their  lives  in  this  place. 


04  THE  ALETHEIA. 

And,  ()  bless  with  a  special  blessing-  JElder  Otis  Saw- 
yer, who  went  out  from  among  us  in  the  midst  of  his 
labors  in  the  beauty  and  glory  of  heavenly  light ;  whose 
spirit  is  now  here,  a  watchful  guardian,  beaming  with  the 
brightness  and  joys  of  immortal  youth. 

And,  O  our  Heavenly  Father  and  Mother,  grant  that  a 
double  portion  of  thy  blessing  may  rest  upon  our  be- 
loved leaders,  the  Ministry  of  the  Bishopric  in  Maine. 
May  the  heavy  burdens  be  lifted,  and  their  spirits  filled 
with  joy  unspeakable. 

And  all  our  loving  Elders,  hear  thou  from  thy  throne 
in  the  heavens,  that  the  sunshine  of  thy  love  may  abide 
with  them  forever. 

Send  thou  a  message  of  peace  to  the  aged  ones  who 
meet  here  and  renew  the  heart  of  each  toiling^  brother 
and  sister. 

May  this  day  long  be  remembered  by  every  little  child 
whose  home  is  in  the  beautiful  Zion  of  God  in  this  place. 

Amen  and  amen. 


NEW   YEAR'S    GREETING. 

[From   the  Manifesto. '\ 

Brothers  and  Sisters  of  the  Household  of  FaitJi :  — 

Our  good  Sister  Ada  S.  Cummings,  who  writes  our 
monthly  notes  for  the  Manifesto,  has  some  trouble  with 
her  eyes  and  therefore  must  be  careful  for  the  present. 
As  she  cannot  write  until  the  time  will  be  past  for  you  to 
receive  our  New  Year's  greeting  in  the  January  number, 
I  thought  I  would  tell  you  that  we  at  Sabbathday  Lake 
wish  you  all  a  happy  New  Year. 

It  is  a  hazy  Sabbath,  not  what  we  would  call  foggy,  for 
the  sun  is  shining  almost  through,  and  it  makes  us  think 
that  heaven  is  beyond  only  a  little  way.  We  attended 
our  religious  service  and  heaven  appeared  right  in  our 
midst,  no  haze  to  separate.  Eldress  Harriet  Goodwin 
spoke  beautifully  to  the  youth  and  children,  and  said  that 
she  had  noticed  a  marked  improvement  in  their  deport- 
ment, and  this  is  what  her  loving  motherly  eye  is  quick 
to  see.  Their  Elders  and  teachers  spare  no  pains  with 
them,  and  they  show  that  they  are  giving  good  heed  to 
the  kind  instruction  which  the)-  receive  from  day  to  day. 


96  THE  ALETHEIA. 

This  afternoon  I  visited  Sister  Ada  and  her  company 
of  Httle  girls.  They  were  just  arranging  for  a  meeting  of 
their  own.  I  asked  if  I  could  be  a  spectator,  and  liberty 
was  granted  at  once.  They  had  leaders  appointed  from 
their  own  number,  and  the  order  was  perfect.  The  gifts 
of  the  spirit  were  really  made  manifest. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  meeting  I  taught  them  the 
"Celestial  March"  and  other  religious  exercises,  which 
made  the  worship  of  our  fathers  and  mothers  so  beau- 
tiful; and  that  caused  me  to  think  of  the  pure  and  holy 
lives  which  our  fathers  and  mothers  lived.  O  how  white 
and  clean  are  the  spiritual  robes  of  the  children  of  the 
resurrection ! 

These  are  Sabbathday  notes  and  temporal  matters  are 
left  out.  So  in  the  commencement  of  the  New  Year  we 
will  seek  the  spiritual  first,  then  the  temporal  blessings 
will  be  added. 


ts  fC 


5'  S  •'^  " 

(M  2-  ^.  J. 

■J.  ^  '/ 

ft  5-  ""■  — 

S-  K.  2  PC 

^"  GTQ  f*^  ^ 

C  3  ^  -^ 


WINTER. 


[From   the  Manifesto.'] 

"  'T  is  done  !     Dread  Winter  spreads  iiis  latest  glooms, 
And  reigns  tremendous  o'er  the  conquered  year." 

What  is  that  to  us?  We  but  slightly  feel  its  effects, 
hived  together  as  we  are  in  our  pleasant  dwellings, 
enjoying  the  hoarded  increase  of  our  broad  fields,  our 
gardens,  orchards  and  vineyards.  We  saw  the  spring, 
summer  and  autumn  pass  away,  while  joys  and  sorrows 
alternately  filled  our  cup.  We  mingled  our  tears  when 
afiliction's  wave  rolled  over,  and  exulted  together  in  the 
blissful  hour. 

Pleasant  memories  arise  of  much  that  we  have  enjoyed 
in  the  year  that  has  passed,  particularly,  those  seasons 
when  our  brothers  and  sisters  visited  us  from  other  Soci- 
eties of  Believers.  You  came  to  see  us  from  your  beau- 
tiful homes,  and  with  you  came  a  blessing  that  passeth 
not  away  with  the  onward  flow  of  time. 

We  remember  when  we  united  in  songs  of  praise  in 
the  sanctuary,  and  the  word  went  forth  for  judgment  and 
mercy  to  all  who  would  listen,  from  far  and  near.     We 


98  THE  ALETHEIA. 

remember  pleasant  walks  over  this  consecrated  domain, 
and  rides  over  the  hills  and  dales  of  the  neighboring 
towns.     Those  days  are  passed,  but  the  joy  remaineth. 

A  good  aged  father,  Albert  Battles,  from  the  Society  of 
Enfield,  Conn.,  visited  us  in  the  beautiful  month  of  June, 
and  in  a  social  meeting  sang  of  his  great  love  to  Mother 
Ann  Lee,  who  held  aloft  the  standard  of  purity,  and 
revealed  principles  which  are  now  widely  accepted.  We 
were  awakened  to  a  realizing  sense  of  the  vastness  of  her 
mission,  overthrowing  creeds,  and  establishing  theories 
which  cannot  be  shaken  by  the  increase  of  light  in  the 
world,  nor  the  forward  march  of  science.- 

"  O  my  mother,  my  blessed  mother, 

Her  name  to  me  is  dear  ; 
I  '11  praise  her  name,  I  '11  spread  her  fame. 

And  kings  and  priests  shall  hear. 
There  's  many  thousands  praised  her  name. 

And  shall  be  many  more ; 
Yea,  millions,  millions,  tens  of  millions 

Shall  her  name  adore." 

Father  James  Whittaker,  when  a  young  man  in  Eng- 
land, saw  a  vision  of  the  Order  that  was  yet  to  be  estab- 
lished in  America,  and  it  was  like  unto  a  beautiful  tree  — 
every  leaf  thereof  shone  with  the  brightness  of  the  sun. 
Those  leaves  are  gems  of  priceless  worth,  held  in  place 
by  the  branches,  receiving  nourishment  from  the  root, 
drawing  life  from  the  atmosphere  around,  the  rain,  the 
dew  and  the  sunshine  of  the  heavens.  Those  leaves  are 
my  brothers  and  sisters  inhabiting  the  Zion  of  God, 
clothed  with  the  love  and  growing  in  the  likeness  of  our 
Heavenly  Parents. 


WINTER.  99 

In  worship,  I  have  seen  them  pass  and  re-pass  each 

other  like  the  angels,  singing  :  —  " 

"  'T  is  the  kind  words,  't  is  the  sweet  words, 
That  cheer  the  down-hearted, 
That  Hft  up  the  spirit 
From  doubt  and  despair. 

0  then  I  will  speak  them 
Unto  you,  my  brother  ! 

1  '11  breathe  forth  a  blessing 
To  you,  my  dear  sister." 


VISIT  TO  THE   SOCIETY   AT  ALFRED. 


[From   the  Maiiifesto .'] 

Sabbathday  Lake,  Me,,  November,  1896. 
Beloved  Elder  Henry :  — 

I  write  to  tell  you  of  my  visit  to  Alfred  in  the  days  of 
the  Indian  summer,  from  the  twenty-fourth  to  the  thirty- 
first  of  October. 

By  the  Portland  and  Rochester  train  we  were  brought 
directly  overland,  in  plain  sight  of  the  village,  around  the 
east  side  of  the  beautiful  Massabesic  Lake,  to  Alfred 
Corner,  two  miles  from  our  destination.  Here  we  were 
met  by  Brother  Frank  Libby  and  Eldresses  Harriet 
Goodwin  and  Eliza  R.  Smith,  with  a  carriage  to  take 
us  home. 

It  was  a  lovely  ride  along  the  lakeside,  the  autumnal 
foliage  decking  the  forests  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see, 
amid  slight  zephyrs,  the  thought  of  which  was  just  suffi- 
cient to  fan  away  all  earthly  cares.  In  the  society  of 
those  we  love,  how  quickly  time  passes !  We  soon 
arrive  at  the  office.  Here  we  find  Sister  Lucinda  Tay- 
lor waiting  to  receive  us,  and  by  her  kindness  and  that 


ELDER    HENRY    G.   GREEN. 
Alfred,   York  County.  Maine. 


■  There  is  a  kingdom  forever  increasing 

Where  rotes  of  redemption  are  worn, 
Where  the  sun  of  rigiiteousness  teaming 

Createth  an  eternal  morn. 
I  am  winning  that  kingdom  so  holy. 

I  am  weaving  those  garments  so  fair. 
Enshrouding  my  soul  in  bright  glory. 

As  the  cross  through  life's  burdens  I  tear.' 


VISIT  TO  THE  SOCIETY  AT  ALFRED.  lOl 

of  those  with  her  all  our  needs  are  anticipated  and  min- 
istered unto. 

And  now  a  thought  of  the  sudden  change  —  a  week  to 
rest  from  the  cares  and  burdens  incident  to  home  life, 
that,  during  the  past  season,  from  the  rush  of  business, 
was  almost  overpowering.  Instead  of  caring  for  others, 
all  are  striving  to  care  for  you. 

Upon  the  Sabbath  we  met  for  divine  service.  Promi- 
nent in  the  assembly  were  our  venerable  Elders,  Joshua 
Bussell  and  Hiram  Tarbox,  in  spirit  firm  as  the  hills, 
bearing  the  same  testimony  that  we  have  often  heard 
from  them  in  the  days  that  are  past,  both  here  and  in  our 
home  at  Sabbathday  Lake.  Beloved  and  consecrated 
ones,  your  spiritual  children  will  reap  in  joy  what  you 
have  sown  in  tears. 

I  cannot  tell  you  of  all  the  joys  of  those  days,  for  space 
will  not  permit,  but  I  will  speak  of  the  willow  trees  that  I 
went  to  see  one  afternoon.  They  grew  by  the  side  of 
the  old  road  over  which  Father  James  Whittaker  came 
when  he  visited  Alfred  in  the  year  1785.  He,  and  the 
Elders  with  him,  stuck  the  withes  that  they  had  driven 
their  horses  with  into  the  ground.  They  took  root  and 
grew  to  be  these  great  trees,  nearly  three  feet  in  diam- 
eter. The  one  that  Father  James  set  has  fallen,  and 
from  the  side  of  the  trunk  three  or  four  large  willows 
are  growing.  These  will  be  succeeded  by  others.  The 
root  will  not  die  out  and,  as  the  willow  trees  grow  on  and 
on,  the  seeds  of  eternal  truth  which  Father  James  planted 
iti  this  place  will  also  grow.     Those  principles  will  never 


I02  THE  ALETHEIA. 

die.  These  were  my  thoiiorhts  as  I  stood  upon  the  log  of 
the  fallen  willow  on  that  lovely  afternoon. 

In  the  cemetery  we  saw  the  names  of  the  fathers  and 
mothers  who  gave  themselves,  with  all  they  had,  to  found 
this  home  for  those  who  would  follow  in  their  footsteps, 
and  live  the  high  and  pure  life  required  of  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  God.  The  final  consecration  was  made 
when  the  Society  was  organized  in  the  year  1793.  Here 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  living  together  as 
brothers  and  sisters,  sharing  equally  in  every  temporal 
blessing.  I  noticed  the  names  John  Barnes,  Elisha  Pote, 
Rebecca  Hodgdon,  and  many  others.  Names  to  be 
remembered  in  all  coming  time  by  those  who  tread  the 
straight  and  narrow  way  which  they  marked  out.  Their 
lives  were  not  in  vain.  "The  stone  that  smote  the  image 
became  a  great  mountain  and  filled  the  whole  earth." 

I  returned  to  my  home  at  Sabbathday  Lake  on  Satur- 
day, the  thirty-first.  Elder  Henry  G.  Green,  of  the  Al- 
fred Society,  came  also,  and  we  had  the  blessing  of  his 
presence  over  the  Sabbath,  and  several  days  following. 
The  young  receive  encouragement,  and  the  weak  in  faith 
are  strengthened  by  his  steadfast  spirit. 

As  I  have  in  mind  at  this  time,  the  home  at  Alfred, 
"  Beautiful  for  situation,"  and  also  the  home  at  Sabbath- 
day  Lake,  I  exclaim  with  the  prophet,  "  How  goodly  are 
thy  tents,  O  Jacob,  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel!  As 
the  valleys  are  they  spread  forth,  as  gardens  by  the  riv- 
er's side,  as  the  trees  of  lign-aloes  which  the  Lord  hath 
planted,  and  as  cedar  trees  beside  the  waters." 


TO   THE    CEDARS   OF    LEBANON. 


"  The  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple  ;  let  all  the  earth  keep  silence 
before  him." 

"  His  foundation  is  in  the  holy  mountains." 

Therefore  "my  heart  is  inditing  a  good  matter."  It  is 
of  the  "Mount  Lebanon  Cedar  Boughs,"  a  book  the  Hter- 
ature  of  which  is  of  the  highest  type,  gems  of  poetic 
genius,  written  by  the  Queen's  Daughters,  whose  cloth- 
ing is  of  wrought  gold.  By  them  it  is  dedicated  not  only 
to  the  household  of  faith,  but  to  all  yearning  souls  in  the 
wide,  wide  world. 

They  are  boughs  from  the  Cedars  of  Lebanon.  The 
trees  are  still  there,  waving  in  grandeur  and  beauty. 
They  are  poems  sent  forth  to  enlighten  and  educate,  and 
to  make  manifest  the  intellectual  power  that  has  been 
attained  in  the  spiritual,  communistic  life.  Under  no 
other  condition  can  a  door  be  open  for  such  a  pure  and 
refined  education  as  that  acquired  in  the  home  that  has 
been  prepared,  whose  foundation  is  in  the  holy  mountain. 

Here  in  this  favored  retreat  minds  have  been  disci- 
plined until  sordid  desires  have  been  subdued,  selfish- 
ness destroyed,  and  the  animal  nature  overcome.     From 


I04  THE  ALETHEIA. 

this  altitude  they  look  upon  the  children  of  men,  ever 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  draw  them  up  to  higher 
and  purer  lives.  It  is  to  this  cause  they  give  their 
strength  from  day  to  day,  and  as  they  give,  they  renew 
their  strength  from  the  overflowing  fountain  of  God's 
love.  They  walk  and  do  not  faint,  they  run  and  do  not 
weary. 

Here  also  is  found  that  mine  of  intellectual  wealth 
from  which  these  Cedar  Boughs  have  emanated.  We 
read  one  poem  ;  it  is  beautiful,  and  we  want  to  call  your 
attention  to  it.  We  read  another;  it  is  equally  good, 
and  so  on,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  book. 

The  Mother  in  the  Deity  is  here  made  manifest.  The 
Mother  Spirit  in  the  New  Creation  here  stands  in  her 
place.  The  virgins  that  follow  her  are  brought  unto 
the  King  in  raiment  of  needlework ;  with  gladness  and 
rejoicing  they  come,  for  grace  is  poured  into  their  lips. 
They  ride  prosperously,  because  of  truth  and  meekness 
and  righteousness. 

Thus  the  Cedars  of  Lebanon  wave  in  majesty,  distilling 
dew  and  sending  forth  "boughs"  for  the  healing  of  the 
nations. 

The  Daughters  of  Zion  have  arisen  to  thresh  and  to 
beat  in  pieces  many  peoples,  and  they  will  "consecrate 
their  gain  unto  the  Lord,  and  their  substance  unto  the 
Lord  of  the  whole  earth." 

Amen,  so  let  it  be. 


PI 


n  2 


2^ 


DEDICATION    AT    POLAND    SPRINGS    OF   THE 
MAINE   STATE   BUILDING.'"* 


ALSO  THE  CELEBRATION  OF  THE  CENTENNIAL  OF 
THE  RICKER  FAMILY  AS  HOTEL  PROPRIETORS 
IN  THE  TOWN   OF  POLAND,   ME.,  JULY  ist,   1895. 

The  clay  was  seemingly  made  for  the  occasion.  It  was 
a  beautiful  day  when  the  great  men  of  the  State  of  Maine 
met  upon  her  loveliest  spot  of  ground. 

The  Shakers  had  been  kindly  invited  by  the  proprie- 
tors to  be  present,  and  be  assured  we  availed  ourselves 
of  the  privilege. 

A  number  of  our  people  went  early  and  had  front 
seats.  Our  carriage  came  a  little  later  and  stopped  in 
the  road  opposite.  We  were  near  enough  to  hear  dis- 
tinctly all  that  was  said,  and  see  the  speakers  upon  the 
platform. 

We  heard  the  Governor  of  the  State,  Honorable  Henry 
13.  Cleaves,  deliver  an  able  address.  The  next  speaker 
was  a  Judge  Advocate-General  of  Massachusetts. 


*  Removed  from  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  Cirounds  at  Chi- 
cajjo.  III.,  and  re-erected  in  the  grove  near  the  Poland  Spring  House  by 
Hiram   Ricker  &  Sons. 


lo6  THE  ALETHEIA. 

Senator  Euo^ene  Hale  was  then  introduced.  I  would 
like  to  tell  you  all  that  he  said,  but  can  only  give  you  a 
small  portion.  He  apostrophized  the  building,  and  said 
to  it,  "  My  young  friend,  if  you  are  wise  and  sensible  stay 
right  where  you  are  and  thank  the  Lord  that  you  are  out 
of  Chicago.  You  ought  to  feel  like  a  man  who  has  just 
emerged  from  an  election  riot  in  the  lower  streets  of 
New  York  City,  and  has  launched  himself  into  the  pla- 
cidity of  a  Shaker  meeting  here  in  the  State  of  Maine. 
You  ought  to  be  glad  that  )'Ou  are  rid  of  noise,  and 
temptation,  and  anarchists,  my  young  friend,  and  that 
you  have  come  down  here  where  Nature  sits  at  her  best, 
and  broods  lovingly  over  such  a  scene  as  human  eyes 
have  rarely  witnessed." 

He  then  spoke  of  what  the  Rickers  had  done  here  in 
the  past  and  in  the  present.  He  said:  " They  do  every- 
thing in  a  delightful  way  —  do  it  handsomely,  do  it  well. 
They  are  great  benefactors.  Talk  about  the  discovery  of 
America  in  1492,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  Hiram 
Ricker,  who  discovered  this  spring,  was  a  greater  bene- 
factor than  Christopher  Columbus.  The  man  who  is 
able  to  give  us  a  good  digestion,  sleep  all  night,  and  that 
perpetual  serenity  which  the  old  English  essayists  talk 
about,  does  more  good  than  the  man  who  discovers  a 
country." 

Senator  Hale  said  much  more,  equall)-  interesting  and 
true,  when  Senator  William  P.  Frye  took  the  stand.  He 
kept  the  people  laughing,  and  the  applause  was  so  great 
that  we  could  hardly  hear  what  he  said ;  but  we  know  the 


SPEECHES.  107 

mother  and  sisters  of  the  Ricker  family  were  brouj^ht  in 
for  their  share  of  the  honors  of  building^  up  this  beauti- 
ful place.  God  bless  him  for  this!  And  he  spoke  of 
another  mother,  whose  home  was  in  sii^ht  upon  another 
hill  like  unto  this,  who  reared  up  so  many  of  the  great 
men  of  the  nation,  namely,  the  Washburns.  Thus  he 
held  the  people  entranced  throughout  the  length  of  his 
speech. 

The  next  speaker  was  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley,  Jr.  We 
listened  spellbound  to  his  glowing  words,  but  his  dis- 
course was  altogether  too  short,  for  it  was  but  a  -few 
minutes  before  the  chairman  introduced  Hon.  Charles 
A.  Boutelle,  of  Bangor,  Maine,  Member  of  Congress. 

In  the  course  of  his  speech  he,  in  a  vein  of  mirthful- 
ness,  mentioned  Massachusetts  as  once  being  a  part  of 
Maine.  He  said:  "We  are  proud  of  Massachusetts. 
We  are  glad  of  what  she  has  achieved  with  the  assistance 
which  we  have  given  her  from  time  to  time.  We  are 
glad  that  we  have  furnished  her  her  best  Governors, 
such  as  Andrew  and  Long.  We  are  proud  that  we 
have  given  her  her  merchant  princes,"  etc.-  His  words 
sent  a  thrill  of  delight  through  the  audience,  especially 
those  who  were  natives  of  Maine.  We  were  glad  to  be 
reminded  of  how  much  the  dear  old  State  of  Maine  had 
to  be  proud  of  in  her  daughter,  Massachusetts. 

The  last  speaker  was  Gen.  A.  P.  Martin,  of  Boston. 
He  kept  up  the  interest  by  a  fine  flow  of  oratory.  His 
native  place  was  about  three  miles  distant,  in  New 
Gloucester.     He  loved  these  hills  and  dales,  over  which 


io8  THE  ALETHEIA. 

he  roamed  in  the  days  of  his  boyhood.  He  quoted 
poetry,  and  his  themes  were  i^^rand  and  beautiful. 

The  dinner  hour  had  now  arrived,  and  all  were  called 
to  a  sumptuous  repast,  such  as  only  can  be  found  at  the 
Poland  Spring  Hotel,  given  freely  by  the  proprietors  to 
the  hundreds  of  people  who  were  upon  the  ground  that 
lovely  day. 

Thus  passed  one  of  the  most  pleasant  seasons  in  our 
existence.  Not  only  was  the  dedication  of  the  Maine 
building  a  complete  success,  but  the  centennial  of  the 
Ricker  family  as  hotel  proprietors  in  Poland  was  made 
prominent  by  each  of  the  speakers. 

A  little  over  one  hundred  years  ago,  Eliphaz  Ring,  the 
Shaker,  owned  this  hill  with  the  broad  fields  and  wood- 
lands bordering  on  the  lakes.  He  owned  the  spring, 
and  drank  its  healing  waters  without  a  thought.  Little 
did  he  imagine  what  the  future  would  develop.  But  it 
was  not  for  him  nor  his  posterity.  He  heard  and  obeyed 
the  call  to  a  higher  life,  when  the  Shakers  held  meetings 
in  these  homes,  commencing  in  November,  1783.  He 
occupied  his  home  here  with  his  family  until  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  the  Shaker  Society  at  Alfred,  Maine, 
in  1793.  Our  Society  at  Sabbathday  Lake  was  organ- 
ized under  the  same  leadership,  the  19th  of  April,  1794, 
as  was  stated  in  a  former  chapter. 

Jabez  Ricker,  ancestor  of  these  proprietors,  owned  one 
of  the  farms  where  the  Society  at  Alfred  is  located.  He 
owned  the  mill  privilege.  By  an  act  of  kindness  to  the 
Shakers,  he  consented  to  exchange  farms  with  Eliphaz 


;^ 


MAIXE   STATE    BUILDIXG. 
In  the  grove  near  the  Poland  Spring  House,  South  Poland.  Maine. 


SHAKER   FAMILIES.  109 

Ring,  and  moved  his  family  to  this  hill  and  here  opened 
a  hotel  one  hundred  years  ago.  By  this  bargain  the 
Shakers  in  Alfred  came  into  possession  of  their  valuable 
mill-privilege,  and  some  of  their  richest  lands  between 
the  beautiful  lakes,  Massabesic  and  Bungaunt. 

Eliphaz  Ring  moved  his  family  to  Alfred  about  this 
time,  and  they  were  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
Shaker  Society  while  they  lived.  I  think  that  none  of 
them  turned  back  to  the  old  way. 

Ruth,  a  daughter  of  Eliphaz,  had  married  Thomas 
Cushman  of  Buckfield,  Maine.  They  became  Shakers, 
and  went  to  Alfred  with  the  Ring  family.  They  had  two 
sons.  One  of  them  chose  the  Shaker  life,  and  became  a 
highly-respected  member  and  Elder  in  the  Alfred  Soci- 
ety. The  other  son  remained  outside,  and  is  the  ances- 
tor of  some  of  the  nicest  people  in  Auburn,  Maine. 

Thomas  Cushman  was  the  financial  leader  of  the  Al- 
fred Society  a  number  of  years.  He  afterwards  became 
Bishop  of  the  three  Societies  in  Maine.  He  was  loved 
by  all  the  people,  but  they  had  to  part  with  him.  He 
died  in  the  year  18 16,  being  only  fifty-seven  years  of  age. 
His  successor  was  Elisha  Pote,  of  whom  mention  has 
been  made  in  this  book. 

The  Society  at  Gorham,  Maine,  moved  to  the  southern 
Rang  Hill,  one  mile  from  Poland  Springs,  in  18 19.  In 
1887  it  was  merged  into  the  Society  at  Sabbathday  Lake. 

Thus  we  see  that  God's  ways,  though  to  us  inscrutable 
at  the  time,  have  in  these  cases  finally  brought  good  to 
all  concerned. 


THE  SHAKER  SETTLEMENTS  OF  CANTERBURY 
AND  ENFIELD,  N.  H. 


[From   the   Manifcsto.'\ 

It  was  a  lovely  morning  —  October  22d,  1897  —  when 
Elders  William  Dumont  and  Henry  Green,  Eldress  Eliz- 
abeth Haskell  and  the  writer  started  from  Alfred,  Maine- 
for  a  visit  to  the  Societies  of  Believers  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. Throug'h  a  clear,  crisp  atmosphere  the  smoking 
engine  hurried  us  along,  over  hill  and  through  dale,  by 
pleasant  woodlands  and  cultivated  farms  to  Alton  Bay. 
Then  for  a  number  of  miles  along  the  shores  of  Lake 
Winnipiseogee,  through  whose  clear,  placid  waters  could 
be  plainly  seen  the  white,  pebbly  bottom  of  the  lake. 
One  view  of  Mt.  Washington,  far  to  the  north-west,  and 
we  are  off  to  Laconia,  at  which  station  we  are  made 
glad  by  meeting  two  brethren  from  Canterbury,  Elders 
Benjamin  Smith  and  Arthur  Bruce,  with  carriages  to 
take  us  to  their  pleasant  village,  twelve  miles  distant. 
We  arrive  as  the  shades  of  evening  are  falling,  and  are 
welcomed  to  one  of  our  most  beautiful  homes  by  our 
own  Brothers  and   Sisters.      All   things   needed  for  our 


SHAKER  SETTLEMENTS.  Ill 

comfort  are  amply  provided  by  their  love  and  care.  The 
days  of  our  visit  come  and  o-q.  all  pleasant  da)-s,  bringing 
pleasures  and  surprises  manifold. 

In  the  office  of  the  Manifesto,  our  beloved  Elder 
Henry  C.  Blinn  explains  to  us  the  machinery  by  which 
our  thoughts  are  stamped  upon  paper,  and  the  little  pam- 
phlets are  made  which  carry  our  ideas  to  the  Societies 
of  Believers  and  to  the  outside  world;  all  clone  under  his 
watchful  guidance.  He  then  took  us  to  his  museum, 
where  are  carefully  stored  many  relics  of  old,  so  inter- 
esting to  us  in  these  latter  days.  We  saw  the  skeleton 
in  the  closet,  reminding  us  that  we  are  "fearfully  and 
wonderfully  made,"  and  while  these  earthly  forms  are 
moldering  in  the  dust,  the  spirit,  which  is  the  reality,  is 
marching  on  in  the  beautiful  life  beyond. 

We  are  visiting  with  those  we  long  have  loved,  and  are 
surrounded  by  scenes  which  call  to  mind  historical  events 
of  the  old  times.  Not  the  least  of  these  is  the  building 
in  which  the  Sacred  Roll  was  printed  in  the  year  1843. 
Before  us  we  seem  to  see  Philemon  Stewart  in  all  the 
glory  of  his  great  inspiration.  Of  our  company,  only  one 
can  remember  those  days. 

The  evenings  are  delightfully  enjoyed.  One  evening 
we  listen  to  the  quartet,  to  the  piano  and  organ,  the  next 
to  the  orchestra;  but  the  evening  in  which  the  pilgrims 
marched  to  the  Holy  City  was  the  entertainment  which 
took  the  palm.  We  saw  the  beautiful  city  with  its  battle- 
ments and  towers.  We  saw  the  shining  ones  passing  out 
and  in,  guiding  th(^  pilgrims  along  th(nr  w(?ary  wa)-.     We 


112  THE  ALETHEIA. 

saw  Doubt  and  Scorn  and  all  the  powers  of  evil  van- 
quished. Then  the  door  was  opened  to  receive  them, 
amid  the  rejoicing  of  the  angels. 

Under  the  loving  control  of  Eldress  Dorothy  A.  Dur- 
gin  these  entertainments  are  perfected  and  carried  out. 
The  magnetism  of  her  spirit  smooths  down  the  rough- 
ness, always  strengthening  the  weak  and  drawing  out 
the  good.  It  is  the  divine  Mother  Spirit  in  her,  per- 
sonified. 

"  Beauty  reigns  all  around  thy  borders, 
Where  her  lovely  feet  have  trod  ; 
Peace  and  order,  love  and  union, 
In  the  power  and  gift  of  God." 

As  time  passes  on  the  Sabbath  comes.  This  day  is 
marred  by  no  cloud.  It  is  a  perfect  day.  At  the  ap- 
pointed hour  the  sanctuary  is  opened,  not  only  for  the 
Believers,  but  also  for  those  friends  who  choose  to 
attend.  The  singing  is  in  perfect  harmony,  and  most 
beautiful  and  inspiring. 

In  this  service  we  had  the  privilege  of  listening  to  a 
discourse  from  Brother  T.  A.  Dwyer,  late  from  the  out- 
side churches,  and  now  established  in  the  New  Jerusalem 
which  hath  come  down  from  God  out  of  heaven.  The 
Word  is  held  forth  in  perfect  language,  and  as  the  testi- 
mony of  true  Shakerism  falls  from  his  lips,  we  cannot 
wonder  that  the  two  thousand  who  listened  to  his  plead- 
ing tones  in  the  Universalist  church  in  Laconia,  turned 
to  their  homes  in  tears  of  joy  and  new  resolves  for  the 
future.     Thus  will  the  old  heavens  and  earth  pass  away 


DAVID    PARKER. 
Formerly    Trustee,  East  Cantirlno-y.  \.  H. 


"  Not  all  a  dream,  a  passing  dream, 

Is  life's  unfoldment  here; 
Earth's  brighest  glories  are  but  gleams 

Erom  out  the  inner  sphere. 
What   hopes  and  longings  fill  the  heart. 

And  lift  tiie  mind  on  high  — 
They  tell  that  the  immortal  part 

Can  never,  never  die.'" 


SHAKER  SETTLEMENTS.  113 

and  all  things  become  new.  This  day  came  to  a  close 
like  the  others,  and  it  will  never  be  forgotten. 

In  the  course  of  the  coming  week,  Elder  Henry  C. 
Blinn  and  Eldress  Emeline  Hart  conducted  us  to  their 
home  in  Enfield.  Eldress  Joanna  Kaime  met  us  at  the 
door,  and  her  kind  welcome  gave  us  the  assurance  that 
we  were  not  among  strangers,  but  with  our  near  and 
dear  relations.  Great  kindness  is  shown  to  us  in  this 
home,  where  Elder  Abraham  Perkins  spent  so  man)- 
years  of  his  devoted  life,  the  home  of  his  heart's  deep 
love. 

We  remained  nearly  a  week  in  this  beautiful  place. 
Visited  the  North  Family,  which  was  the  home  of  Elder 
John  Lyon,  that  great  expounder,  who  kept  the  sieve  full 
and  kept  it  shaking.  Would  that  he  were  here  now,  to 
continue  the  work  until  the  deserted  villages  were  filled 
with  the  "  Elect,"  "  sought  out  and  chosen." 

The  scenery  here  is  magnificent.  The  brethren  of 
our  company  went  to  a  lake  far  up  the  mountain,  on  the 
west,  fifteen  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  village, 
from  which  the  Society  is  always  sure  of  an  abundant 
supply  of  water.  It  seems  to  be  in  the  crater  of  an  old 
volcano,  and  there  is  no  danger  that  it  will  ever  break 
away  and  damage  property. 

Elder  William  Wilson  very  kindl)-  took  us  around 
Mascoma  Lake,  east  of  the  village,  pointed  out  the  spot 
where  the  first  Shaker  meeting  was  held  in  New  Hamjj- 
shire,  where  the  home  of  James  Jewett.  the  first  convert, 
was  situated,  and  where  John   Cotton  receixed  faith,  h(* 


1  14  THE  ALETHRIA. 

being  the  first  one  to  brino"  the  gospel  testimony,  after 
the  order  of  our  Church,  into  the  State  of  Maine.  That 
meeting  was  held  the  8th  of  September,  1782. 

We  stopped  a  da)-  over  our  time  that  we  might  meet 
Eldress  Rosetta  Cummings  and  Sister  Caroline  Whitcher, 
and  three  young  Sisters  who  were  absent  from  home. 
We  enjoyed  a  lovely  visit  with  them  in  the  afternoon. 
In  the  evening  we  had  our  farewell  visit  with  the  Minis- 
try and  Elders,  only  for  the  present,  however ;  man}' 
meetings  are  to  be  in  the  future. 

The  next  day  we  were  taken  to  the  station  by  Brother 
George  Baxter,  and,  saying  farewell  to  him  until  our  next 
meeting,  we  retraced  our  way  to  Canterbury.  When  we 
arrived  in  Concord  the  rain  was  falling  in  gentle  showers. 
Elder  Henry  Green  left  us  at  this  point  for  Boston, 
homeward  bound.  We  were  expecting  Sister  Lucy  Ann 
Shepard  and  a  company  of  Sisters  from  Canterbur)-,  who 
were  on  their  way  to  Boston.  We  enjoyed  an  hour's 
visit  with  these  loved  ones,  and  then  went  on  to  Canter- 
bury with  the  young  brethren,  leaving  the  sisters  to  take 
the  train.  When  we  drove  up  to  the  office,  many  anx- 
ious ones  were  there  to  meet  us ;  although  the  rain  was 
pouring,  the  quartet  was  out,  singing  of  the  "patter,  pat- 
ter of  the  rain." 

One  da)-  more  in  lovely  Canterbur)-,  which  is  to  be 
well  improved.  We  are  granted  another  short  visit  with 
our  dearly  loved  Sister  Asenath  Stickney.  who  is  suf- 
fering from  injuries  received  from  a  severe  fall ;  also  an 
additional  visit  with  Sister   Harriet   Hastings,   whom  we 


_J 


I.UC\     ANN    SHEl'ARU. 
TrKsfee,  East  Canterbury^  N.  H. 


•  As  the  dew  of  the  morning,  or  as  bright  rivers  roll, 
So  freely  God's  blessings  flow  into  my  soul. 
1  walk  in  his  presence  as  one  greatly  blest, 
( )n  whose  soul  the  love  of  his  work  is  impressed."' 


SHAKER  SETTLEMENTS.  I  15 

have  all  known  to  love.  Then  we  enjoy  a  deli^-htful  sea- 
son with  Elder  Abraham  Perkins,  and  tell  him  of  our 
visit  to  his  home  in  Enfield.  He  bears  up  remarkably 
imder  his  ninety  years. 

By  the  kindness  of  our  Canterbury  friends,  Sister  Edna 
E.  Fitts  is  to  accompany  us  to  our  home  at  Sabbathday 
Lake,  stay  with  us  during  the  winter  and  teach  music. 
The  last  morning  arrived,  and  with  Sister  Edna  we  were 
taken  to  the  station  in  Laconia.  Here  we  part  with 
Elder  Benjamin  and  Elder  Arthur,  who  have  been  so 
kind  to  us,  and  are  on  our  way  home.  We  stop  at 
Alfred  over  night,  and  go  on  to  Sabbathday  Lake  the 
next  day.  All  is  well.  We  again  take  up  the  thread  of 
life  in  the  old  accustomed  way.  Our  music  teacher 
arranges  her  classes  and  commences  her  labor  of  love. 
Music  is  in  the  atmosphere  and  a  song  of  rejoicing  in 
our  souls,  —  a  song  that  can  only  be  learned  by  the  hun- 
dred forty  and  four  thousand.  The  half  has  not  been 
told. 


THE    DAY   OF   JUDGMENT. 


The  light,  at  first  a  glimmer 

Along  the  eastern  way, 
Is  beaming  forth  in  splendor ; 

The  dawning  of  the  day. 
White  mists,  like  billowy  mountains, 

From  water-courses  rise. 
And  sparkling  with  the  sunbeams, 

Blend  with  ethereal  skies. 

Throughout  the  gloom  and  darkness 

We  kept  the  vestal  light, 
And  heard  the  voice  from  Seir, 
"Watchman,  what  of  the  night?" 
Behold  the  morning  cometh, 
The  Mighty  One  is  here." 
Was  sounded  from  the  watch-tower, 
"  The  Judgment  Day  is  near." 

O  not  as  ye  expected 

Does  Gabriel's  trumpet  sound  ! 
The  still,  small  voice,  in  whispers, 

Is  heard  by  all  around. 
O  not  as  ye  expected 

Does  Christ  through  heaven  ride  ! 
The  Living  God  is  in  you, 

You  can  not  turn  aside. 


THE  DAY  OF  JUDGMENT.  i  i 

And  not  as  ye  expected 

Will  Christ  atone  for  you  ; 
The  light  which  now  ariseth 

Will  search  you  through  and  through. 
Upon  the  vestal  altars 

The  holocaust  is  slain, 
And  fires  thereon  are  burning 

The  pride  of  man  to  stain. 

And  not  as  ye  expected 

Will  all  the  dead  arise  ; 
The  dead  in  sin  are  hastening 

To  make  the  sacrifice. 
The  bruised  reed  is  strengthened, 

The  sick  and  lame  are  healed 
And  to  the  feast  invited, — 

The  Book  is  now  unsealed. 

Come  ye  unto  the  banquet, 

The  door  no  man  can  close. 
And  war  has  been  proclaimed 

Against  inherent  foes. 
With  Michael's  mighty  army 

Defy  the  man  of  sin. 
O  not  as  ye  expected 

The  Judgment  Day  rolls  in  ! 


APPENDIX 


SHAKER  CHURCH  COVENANT, 


OR 


CONSTITUTION. 


ELDER   JOSEPH    HOLDEN. 

Mou7it  Lebanon,  N.   Y. 


'  For  Israel  my  Glory  I  've  opened  a  Fountain, 

Whose  waters  continually  flow ; 
Established  my  house  on  the  top  of  the  mountain. 

All  else  I  will  surely  o^  erthrow." 


SHAKER  CHURCH  COVENANT. 


PREAMBLE. 

We,  the  Brethren  and  Sisters  of  the  United  Society  of  Believ- 
ers (called  Shakers),  residing  in  the  County  of ,  and  State 

of ,  being  connected  together  as  a  religious  and   social 

community,  distinguished  by  the  name  and  title  of  the  Church 

of  the  United   Society,  in  the  town  of ,  which  for  many 

years  has  been  established  and  in  successful  operation,  under  the 
charge  of  the  Ministry  and  Eldership  thereof,  and,  feeling  the 
importance  not  only  of  renewing  and  confirming  our  spiritual 
covenant  with  God  and  each  other,  but  also  of  renewing  and 
improving  our  social  compact,  and  amending  the  written  form 
thereof,  do  make,  ordain,  and  declare  the  following  articles  of 
agreement  as  a  summary  of  the  principles,  rules  and  regulations 
established  in  the  Church  of  the  said  United  Society,  which  are 
to  be  kept  and  maintained  by  us,  both  in  our  collective  and 
individual  capacities,  as  a  covenant  or  constitution,  which  shall 
stand  as  a  lawful  testimony  of  our  religious  and  social  compact, 
before  all  men,  and  in  all  cases  of  question  and  law  relating  to 
the  possession  and  improvement  of  our  united  and  consecrated 
interest,  property,  and  estate: 

ARTICLE    L 
Of  the   Gospel  Ministry. 
Section    i.     Their  origin,  call  and  institution: 
We  solemnly  declare  to  each  other   and   to   all  whom  it  may 
concern,  that  we  have  received,  and  do  hereby  acknowledge  as 

i6 


122  THE  ALETHEIA. 

the  foundation  of  our  faith,  order  and  government,  the  testimony 
or  Gospel  of  Christ,  in  his  first  and  second  appearing,  and  we  do 
hereby  solemnly  agree  to  support  and  maintain  the  true  primi- 
tive faith  and  Christian  principles,  the  morals,  rules  and  man- 
ners pertaining  to  the  said  Gospel,  as  ministered  by  the  found- 
ers of  this  society,  and  kept  and  conveyed  through  a  regular 
order  of  ministration,  down  to  the  present  day. 

And,  although,  as  a  religious  society,  we  are  variously  asso- 
ciated, with  respect  to  the  local  situations  of  our  respective  com- 
munities, yet  we  are  known  and  distinguished  as  a  peculiar  peo- 
ple, and  consider  and  acknowledge  ourselves  as  members  of  one 
general  community,  possessing  one  faith,  and  subject  to  one 
united,  parental  and  jNliNISTERlAL  administration,  which  has  been 
regularly  supported  from  the  first  foundation  pillars  of  the  Insti- 
tution, and  which  continues  to  operate  for  the  support,  protec- 
tion and  strength  of  every  part  of  said  community. 

Section   2.     Their  order  and  ofiice: 

We  further  acknowledge  and  declare  that  for  the  purpose  of 
promoting  and  maintaining  union,  order  and  harmony  through- 
out the  various  branches  of  this  community,  the  primary  admin- 
istration of  parental  authority  has  been  settled  in  the  first  estab- 
lished Ministry  at  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  there  to  rest  and  remain 
as  the  center  of  union  to  all  who  are  in  Gospel  relation  and  com- 
munion with  the  Society.  The  established  order  of  this  Ministry 
includes  four  persons,  two  of  each  sex. 

Section  3.  Perpetuity  of  their  office,  and  how  supplied: 
We  further  acknowledge  and  declare  that  the  said  primary 
admjnistration  of  parental  authority  has  been  and  is  perpetuated 
as  fgllows  :  Namely,  that  the  first  in  that  office  and  calling  pos- 
sesses the  right  given  by  the  sanction  of  divine  authority,  through 
the  first  founders  of  this  Society,  to  prescribe  or  direct  any  reg- 
ulation or  appointment  which  they  may  judge  most  proper  and 
necessary  respecting  the  Ministry  or  any  other  important  matter 
which  may  concern  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  subsequent  to 
their  decease.      But  in  case   no   such   regulation  or  appointment 


SHAKER    CHURCH  COVENANT.  123 

be  so  prescribed  or  directed,  then  the  right  to  direct  and  author- 
ize such  regulation  and  appointment  devolves  upon  the  surviv- 
ing members  of  the  Ministry,  in  council  with  the  Elders  of  the 
Church,  or  others,  as  the  nature  of  the  case  in  their  judgment 
may  require.  Such  appointments  being  officially  communicated 
to  all  concerned,  and  receiving  the  general  approbation  of  the 
Church,  are  confirmed  and  supported  in  the  Society. 

This  is  agreeable  to  the  example  recorded  in  the  Scriptures, 
and  continued  by  the  founders  of  this  Society,  and  is  the  order 
and  manner  which  has  been  regularly  practiced,  acknowledged, 
and  maintained  in  the  Community  from  the  beginning. 

Section  4.  Of  the  Ministerial  office  in  the  several  societies 
or  communities  : 

We  further  acknowledge  and  declare,  covenant  and  agree  that 
the  Ministerial  office  and  authority  in  any  Society  or  Community 
of  our  faith,  which  has  emanated,  or  which  may  emanate,  in  a 
regular  line  o'i  order  from  the  center  of  union  aforesaid,  is,  and 
shall  be  acknowledged,  owned  and  respected,  as  the  spiritual  and 
primary  authority  of  such  Society  or  Community,  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  Ministerial  office.  And  in  case  of  the  decease 
or  removal  of  any  individual  of  said  Ministry,  in  any  such  Society, 
his  or  her  lot  and  place  shall  be  filled  by  agreement  of  the  sur- 
viving Ministers,  in  council  with  the  Elders  and  others,  as  the 
nature  of  the  case  may  require,  together  with  the  knowledge  and 
approbation  of  the  primary  Ministerial  authority  at  New  Leba- 
non, N.  Y.,  aforesaid,  to  which  they  a-re  responsible. 

Section   5.      Powers  and  duties  of  the  Ministry: 
The   Ministry  being  appointed   and  established  as  aforesaid, 
are  vested  with  the  primary  authority  of  the  Church  and  its  vari- 
ous branches. 

Hence,  it  becomes  their  special  duty  to  guide  and  superin- 
tend the  spiritual  concerns  of  the  Society  as  a  body  of  people 
under  their  care  and  government,  and  in  connection  with  the 
Elders  in  their  respective  families  and  departments,  who  shall 
act  in  union  with  them,  to  give  and  establish   such  orders,  rules 


124  THE  ALETHEIA. 

and  regulations  as  may  be  found  necessary  for  the  government 
and  protection  of  the  Church  and  Society  within  the  limits  of 
their  jurisdiction,  and  also  to  counsel,  advise  and  judge  in  all 
matters  of  importance,  whether  spiritual  or  temporal.  The  said 
Ministry  are  also  invested  with  authority,  in  connection  with  the 
Elders  as  aforesaid,  to  nominate  and  appoint  to  office  Ministers, 
Elders,  Deacons  and  Trustees,  and  to  assign  offices  of  care  and 
trust  to  such  brethren  and  sisters  as  they,  the  said  Ministers  and 
Elders,  shall  judge  to  be  best  qualified  for  the  several  offices  to 
which  they  may  be  appointed ;  and  we  do  hereby  covenant 
and  agree  that  such  nominations  and  appointments  being  made 
and  officially  communicated  to  those  concerned,  and  receiving 
the  general  approbation  of  the  Church,  or  the  families  concerned, 
shall  thenceforth  be  confirmed  and  supported,  until  altered  or 
revoked  by  the  authority  aforesaid. 

ARTICLE    II. 

Institution  of  the  CJuircJi. 
Section  i.  The  object  and  design  of  Church  relation: 
We  further  acknowledge  and  declare  that  the  great  object, 
purpose  and  design  of  our  uniting  ourselves  together  as  a  church 
or  body  of  people,  in  social  and  religious  compact,  is  faithfully, 
and  honestly  to  occupy,  improve  and  diffuse  the  various  gifts 
and  talents,  both  of  a  spiritual  and  temporal  nature,  with  which 
Divine  wisdom  has  blest  us,  for  the  service  of  God,  for  the  honor 
of  the  Gospel,  and  for  the  mutual  protection,  support,  com- 
fort and  happiness  of  each  other  as  brethren  and  sisters  in  the 
Gospel,  and  for  such  other  pious  and  charitable  purposes  as  the 
Gospel  may  require. 

Section  2.  Who  are  not  admissible  into  Church  relation: 
As  the  unity,  stability  and  purity  of  the  Church  essentially 
depend  on  the  character  and  qualifications  of  its  members,  and 
as  it  is  a  matter  of  importance  that  it  should  not  be  encum- 
bered with  persons  who  are  under  any  involvement  or  incapacity, 
natural  or  moral :    Therefore,  no  member  of  any  company  or 


SHAKER    CHURCH   COVENANT.  125 

association  in  business  or  civil  concern,  no  co-partner  in  trade, 
no  person  under  any  legal  embarrassment  or  obligations  of  ser- 
vice, no  minor,  no  slave  or  bond  servant,  no  insane  person,  no 
profane  person,  nor  any  person  who  lives  in  the  willful  violation 
of  the  known  and  acknowledged  principles  of  moral  conduct, 
shall  be  deemed  qualified  for  admission  into  the  covenant  rela- 
tion and  communion  of  the  Church. 

Section  3.  Preparation  for  admission  into  Church  rela- 
tion : 

In  order  that  believers  may  be  prepared  for  entering  into  the 
sacred  privilege  of  Church  relation,  it  is  of  primary  impor- 
tance that  sufficient  opportunity  and  privilege  should  be  afforded 
under  the  Ministry  of  the  Gospel,  for  them  to  acquire  suit- 
able instruction  in  the  genuine  principles  of  righteousness, 
honesty,  justice  and  true  holiness,  and  also  that  they  should 
prove  their  faith  and  Christian  morality  by  their  practical 
obedience  to  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel  according  to  their 
instructions.  It  is  also  indispensably  necessary  for  them  to 
receive  the  one  uniting  spirit  of  Christ,  and  to  become  so 
far  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  that  they  are  willing  to  sacri- 
fice all  other  relations  for  this  sacred  one.  Another  essential 
step  is  to  settle  all  just  and  equitable  claims  of  creditors  and 
filial  heirs,  so  that  whatever  property  they  may  possess  shall  be 
justly  their  own.  When  this  is  done,  and  they  feel  themselves 
sufficiently  prepared  to  make  a  deliberate  and  final  choice,  to 
devote  themselves,  with  all  they  possess,  wholly  to  the  service 
of  God,  without  reserve,  and  it  shall  be  deemed  proper  by  the 
leading  authority  of  the  Church,  after  examination  and  due  con- 
sideration, to  allow  them  to  associate  together  in  the  capacity  of 
a  Church,  or  a  branch  thereof  in  Gospel  order,  they  may  then 
consecrate  themselves  and  all  they  possess  to  the  service  of  God 
forever,  and  confirm  the  same  by  signing  and  sealing  a  written 
covenant  predicated  upon  the  principles  herein  contained,  and 
fulfilling  on  their  part  all  its  obligations. 


126  THE  ALE  TB EI  A. 

Section  4.     Admission  of  new  members  : 

As  the  door  must  be  kept  open  for  the  admission  of  new 
members  into  the  Church,  when  duly  prepared,  it  is  agreed  that 
each  and  every  person  who  shall  at  any  time  after  the  date  and 
execution  of  the  Church  Covenant,  in  any  branch  of  the  Commu- 
nity, be  admitted  into  the  Church  as  a  member  thereof,  shall 
previously  have  a  fair  opportunity  to  obtain  a  full,  clear  and 
explicit  understanding  of  the  object  and  design  of  the  Church 
Covenant,  and  of  the  obligations  it  enjoins  upon  the  members. 
For  this  purpose,  he  or  she  shall,  in  the  presence  of  two  of  the 
deacons  or  acting  trustees  of  the  Church,  read,  or  hear  the  same 
distinctly  read,  so  as  to  be  able  freely  to  acknowledge  his  or  her 
full  approbation  and  acceptance  thereof,  in  all  its  parts.  Then 
he,  she  or  they  (as  the  case  may  be),  shall  be  at  liberty  to  sign 
the  same ;  and  having  signed  and  sealed  it,  and  being  subject  to 
all  the  obligations  required  of  the  original  signers,  shall  thence- 
forth be  entitled  to  all  the  benefits  and  privileges  thereunto 
appertaining;  and  the  signature  or  signatures  thus  added  shall 
be  certified  by  the  said  deacons  or  trustees,  together  with  the 
date  thereof 

Section  5.  Concerning  youth  and  children  : 
Youth  and  children,  being  minors,  cannot  be  received  as 
members  of  the  Church  possessing  a  concentrated  interest  in  a 
united  capacity,  yet  it  is  agreed  that  they  may  be  received  under 
the  immediate  care  and  government  of  the  Church,  at  the  desire 
or  consent  of  such  person  or  persons  as  have  a  lawful  right  to 
or  control  of  such  minors,  together  with  their  own  desire  or  con- 
sent. But  no  minor  under  the  care  of  the  Church  can  be 
employed  therein  for  wages  of  any  kind. 

ARTICLE    in. 

Of  the   Trusteeship. 
Section    i.      Appointment,    qualifications    and    powers    of 
Trustees : 

It  has  been  found  necessary  for  the  establishment  of  order  in 


SHAKER   CHURCH  COVENANT.  127 

the  Society  in  its  various  branches,  that  Superintending  Deacons 
and  Deaconesses  should  be  appointed  and  authorized  to  act  as 
Trustees  or  agents  of  the  temporaHties  of  the  Church.  They 
must  be  recommended  by  honesty  and  integrity,  their  fidelity  in 
trust,  and  their  capacity  for  the  transaction  of  business  ;  of  these 
qualifications  the  Ministry  and  Elders  must  be  the  judges. 
The  official  Trustees  of  the  Church  are  generally  known  among 
us  by  the  title  of  Office  Deacons,  of  which  there  must  be  two  or 
more ;  and  being  appointed  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  they  are 
invested  with  power  to  ta}<e  the  general  charge  and  oversight  of 
all  the  property,  estate  and  interest,  dedicated,  devoted,  conse- 
crated and  given  up  for  the  benefit  of  the  Church  ;  to  hold  in 
trust  the  fee  of  all  the  lands  belonging  to  the  Church  ;  also  all 
gifts,  grants  and  donations  which  have  been,  or  may  hereafter 
be  dedicated,  devoted,  consecrated  and  given  up  as  aforesaid  ; 
and  the  said  property,  estate,  interest,  gifts,  grants  and  donations 
shall  constitute  the  united  and  consecrated  interest  of  the  Church, 
and  shall  be  held  in  trust  by  the  said  Deacons,  as  acting  Trus- 
tees, in  their  official  capacity,  and  by  their  successors  in  said 
office  and  trust  forever. 

Section  2.      Duties  of  the  Trustees  : 

It  is  and  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Deacons  or  acting 
Trustees  to  improve,  use  and  appropriate  the  said  united  interest 
for  the  benefit  of  the  church  in  all  its  departments ;  and  for 
such  other  religious  and  charitable  purposes  as  the  Gospel  may 
require;  and  also  to  make  all  just  and  equitable  defense  in  law 
for  the  protection  and  security  of  the  consecrated  and  united 
interest,  rights  and  privileges  of  the  Church  and  Society,  jointly 
and  severally  as  an  associated  community,  as  far  as  circum- 
stances and  the  nature  of  the  case  may  require  ;  Provided,  never- 
theless, that  all  the  transactions  of  the  said  Deacons  or  acting 
Trustees,  in  the  use,  management,  protection,  defense  and  dispo- 
sal of  the  aforesaid  interest,  shall  be  for  the  benefit  and  privilege 
and  in  behalf  of  the  Church  or  Society  as  aforesaid;  and  not 
for  any  private  interest,  object  or  purpose  whatever. 


128  THE  ALETHEIA. 

Section  3.  Trustees  to  give  information  and  be  responsi- 
ble to  the  Ministry  and  Elders: 

It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees  to  give  information 
to  the  Ministry  and  Elders  of  the  church  of  the  general  state  of 
the  temporal  concerns  of  the  church  and  society  committed  to 
their  charge ;  and  also  to  report  to  the  said  authority  all  losses 
sustained  in  the  united  interest  thereof,  which  shall  come  under 
their  cognizance.  And  no  disposal  of  any  real  estate  of  the 
Church,  nor  any  important  contract  shall  be  considered  valid, 
without  the  previous  approbation  of  the  authority  aforesaid,  to 
whom  the  said  Deacons  and  Trustees  are  and  shall,  at  all  times, 
be  held  responsible  in  all  their  iransaetions. 

Section  4.  Books  of  account  and  record  to  be  kept: 
It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  Deacons  or  acting  Trustees 
to  keep,  or  cause  to  be  kept,  regular  books  of  accounts,  in  which 
shall  be  entered  the  debt  and  credit  accounts  of  all  mercantile 
operations  and  business  transactions  between  the  Church  and 
others:  all  receipts  and  expenditures,  bonds,  notes  and  bills  of 
account,  and  all  other  matters  that  concern  the  united  interest 
of  the  Church;  and  also  a  book  or  books  of  records,  in  which 
shall  be  recorded  a  true  and  correct  copy  of  this  Covenant ;  also 
all  appointments,  removals  and  changes  in  office  of  Ministry, 
Elders,  Deacons  and  Trustees;  all  admissions,  removals,  depart- 
ure and  decease  of  members,  together  with  all  other  matters  and 
transactions  of  a  public  nature  which  are  necessary  to  be  recorded 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Church,  and  for  the  preservation  and 
security  of  the  documents,  papers  and  written  instruments  per- 
taining to  the  united  interest  and  concerns  of  the  Church,  com- 
mitted to  their  charge.  And  the  said  record  shall  be  annually 
inspected  by  the  leading  authority  of  the  Church,  who,  together 
with  the  Trustees,  shall  be  the  official  auditors  of  the  same  ;  and 
the  signature  of  one  or  more  of  said  auditors,  with  the  date  of 
inspection  and  approval,  shall  be  deemed  sufficient  authority  for 
the  correctness  and  validit\-  of  the  facts  and  matters  so  recorded. 


SHAKER  CHURCH  COVENANT.  129 

Section  5.  Trustees  to  execute  a  declaration  of  trust : 
For  the  better  security  of  the  united  and  consecrated  interest 
of  the  Church  to  the  proper  uses  and  purposes  stipulated  in  this 
covenant,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustee  or  Trustees,  who 
may  be  vested  with  the  lawful  title  or  claim  to  the  real  estate  of 
the  Church,  to  make  and  execute  a  declaration  of  trust,  in  due 
form  of  law,  embracing  all  and  singular  the  lands,  tenements  and 
hereditaments,  with  every  matter  of  interest  pertaining  to  the 
Church  which  at  the  time  being  may  be  vested  in  him  or  them, 
or  that  may  in  future  come  under  his  or  their  charge  of  office, 
during  his  or  their  said  Trusteeship.  The  said  declaration  shall 
state  expressly  that  the  said  Trustee  or  Trustees  hold  all  such 
lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments,  and  all  the  personal  property 
of  every  description  belonging  to  the  Church  or  Society,  in  trust 
for  the  uses  and  purposes  expressed  in  and  subject  to  the  rules, 
conditions  and  regulations  prescribed  by  the  covenant  and  con- 
stitution of  the  said  Church  or  Society,  or  any  amendments 
thereto  which  shall  hereafter  be  adopted  by  the  general  appro- 
bation of  the  Church,  and  in  conformity  with  the  primitive  faith 
and  acknowledged  principles  of  the  Society.  And  the  said 
declaration  shall  be  in  writing,  duly  executed  under  his  or  their 
hands  and  seals,  and  shall  be  recorded  in  the  Book  of  Records 
provided  for  in  the  preceding  section. 

Section  6.  Vacancies  in  certain  cases  ;  how  supplied  : 
We  further  covenant  and  agree  that  in  case  it  should  at  any 
time  happen,  in  the  course  of  Divine  Providence,  that  the  office 
of  Trustees  should  become  wholh'  vacant  by  the  death  or  defec- 
tion of  all  the  Trustees  in  whom  may  be  vested  the  fee  of  the 
lands  or  real  estate  belonging  to  said  Church  or  Society,  then, 
and  in  that  case,  one  or  more  successors  shall  be  appointed  by 
the  constitutional  authority  recognized  in  this  Covenant,  accord- 
ing to  the  rules  and  regulations  prescribed  by  the  same.  And 
the  said  appointment,  being  duly  recorded  in  the  Book  of  Rec- 
ords provided  for  in  this  article,  shall  be  deemed,  and  is  hereby 
declared  to  vest   in  such  successor  or  successors,  all  the  rights, 


I30  THE  ALETHEIA. 

interest  and  authority  of  their  predecessors,  in  respect  to  all  such 
lands,  property  or  estate  belonging  to  the  Church  or  Society  as 
aforesaid. 

ARTICLE   IV. 

Of  the  EldersJiip. 
Section  i.  Choice  and  appointment  of  Elders: 
The  united  interests  and  objects  of  believers  established  in 
Gospel  order,  require  that  Elders  should  be  chosen  and  appointed 
for  the  spiritual  protection  of  families,  whose  business  it  is  to  take 
the  lead  in  their  several  departments  in  the  care  and  government 
of  the  concerns  of  the  Church  and  of  the  different  families 
established  in  and  pertaining  to  the  Society.  Their  number  and 
order  should  correspond  with  that  of  the  Ministry.  They  are 
required  to  be  persons  of  good  understanding,  of  approved  faith- 
fulness and  integrity,  and  gifted  in  spiritual  administration. 
They  must  be  selected  and  appointed  by  the  Ministry,  who  are 
to  judge  of  their  qualifications. 

Section  2.     Duties  of  the  Elders  : 

As  faithful  watchmen  upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  it  becomes  the 
duty  of  the  Elders  to  watch  over  their  respective  families ;  to 
instruct  the  members  in  their  respective  duties;  to  counsel, 
encourage,  admonish,  exhort  and  reprove  as  occasion  may 
require ;  to  lead  the  worship  ;  to  be  examples  to  the  members 
of  obedience  to  the  principles  and  orders  of  the  Gospel,  and  to 
see  that  the  orders,  rules  and  regulations  pertaining  to  their 
respective  families  or  departments  are  properly  kept. 

ARTICLE    V. 

Of  Family  Deacons  and  Deaconesses. 

Section    i.     Their  qualifications  and  appointments: 

The  office  of  family  Deacons  and  Deaconesses  has  long  been 

established   in  the  Church,  and   is  essentially  necessary  for  the 

care,   management  and  direction  of  the    domestic   concerns   in 

each  family,  order  or  branch  of  the  Church.     They  are  required 

to  be  persons  of  correct  and  well-grounded  faith   in  the  estab- 


SHAKER  CHURCH  COVENANT.  13  I 

lished  principles  of  the  Gospel,  faithful  in  duty,  closely  united 
to  their  Elders,  and  of  sufficient  capacity  in  business.  Of  their 
qualifications  the  Ministers  and  Elders  by  whom  they  are  chosen 
and  appointed  must  be  the  judges.  Their  number  in  each  family 
is  generally  two  of  each  sex,  but  may  be  more  or  less,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  family  and  the  extent  of  their  various  duties. 

Section  2.     Their  duties  and  obligations: 

The  Deacons  and  Deaconesses  of  families  are  intrusted  with 
the  care  and  oversight  of  the  domestic  concerns  of  their  respec- 
tive families.  It  is  their  duty  to  make  proper  arrangements  in 
business;  to  maintain  good  order;  watch  over,  counsel  and 
direct  the  members  in  their  various  occupations,  as  occasion  may 
require  ;  to  make  application  to  the  office  Deacons  or  Trustees 
for  whatever  supplies  are  needed  in  the  several  departments  of 
the  family;  to  maintain  union,  harmony  and  good  understand- 
ing with  the  said  office  Deacons  ;  and  to  report  to  their  Elders 
the  state  of  matters  which  fall  under  their  cognizance  and  obser- 
vation. But  their  power  is  restricted  to  the  domestic  concerns 
of  their  respective  families  and  departments,  and  does  not  extend 
to  any  immediate  or  direct  correspondence  with  those  without 
the  boundaries  of  the  Church.  They  have  no  immediate  concern 
with  trade  and  commerce,  therefore  it  is  not  their  business  to 
buy  and  sell,  nor  in  any  way  to  dispose  of  the  property  under 
their  care,  except  with  the  counsel  and  approbation  of  the 
Trustees. 

ARTICLE   VI. 

Privileges  and  Obligations  of  Members. 

Section  i.  Benefits  and  privileges  of  members  in  church 
relation  : 

The  united  interest  of  the  Church  having  been  formed  and 
established  by  the  free-will  offerings  and  pious  donations  of  the 
members  respectively,  from  the  commencement  of  the  institu- 
tion, for  the  object  and  purposes  already  stated,  it  cannot  be 
considered  either  as  a  joint  tenancy  or  a  tenancy  in  common, 
but  as  a  consecrated  whole,  designed  for  and  devoted  to  the  uses 


132  THE  ALETHEIA. 

and  purposes  of  the  Gospel  forever,  agreeable  to  the  established 
principles  of  the  Church:  Therefore,  it  shall  be  held,  possessed 
and  enjoyed  by  the  Church,  in  their  united  capacity,  as  a  sacred 
and  covenant  right :  That  is  to  say,  all  and  every  member  thereof, 
while  standing  in  Gospel  union  and  maintaining  the  principles  of 
this  Covenant,  shall  enjoy  equal  rights,  benefits  and  privileges,  in 
the  use  of  all  things  pertaining  to  the  Church,  according  to  their 
several  needs  and  circumstances  ;  and  no  difference  shall  be  made 
on  account  of  what  any  one  has  contributed  and  devoted,  or 
may  hereafter  contribute  and  devote  to  the  support  and  benefit 
of  the  institution. 

Section  2.     Proviso: 

It  is  nevertheless  stipulated  and  agreed  that  the  benefits, 
privileges  and  enjoyments  secured  by  this  Covenant  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  shall  not  be  considered  as  extending  to  any 
person  who  shall  refuse  to  comply  with  the  conditions  of  this 
association  ;  or  who  shall  refuse  to  submit  to  the  admonition 
and  discipline  of  the  constituted  authority  of  the  Church  ;  or 
who  shall  willfully  depart  from  the  principles  and  practice  of 
those  religious  and  moral  obligations  which  have  been  estab- 
lished in  the  Church,  agreeable  to  the  primitive  faith  and  distin- 
guished principles  of  this  institution  ;  of  which  refusal  or  non- 
compliance the  leading  authority  acknowledged  in  the  first  arti- 
cle of  this  Covenant,  shall  be  the  proper  and  constitutional 
judges. 

Section   3.      Obligation  of  the  members: 

As  subordination  and  obedience  is  the  life  and  soul  of  every 
well-regulated  community,  so  our  strength  and  protection,  our 
happiness  and  prosperity,  in  our  capacity  of  Church  members, 
must  depend  on  our  faithful  obedience  to  the  rules  and  orders 
established  in  the  Church,  and  to  the  instruction,  counsel  and 
advice  of  its  leaders.  Therefore,  we  do  hereby  covenant  and 
agree  that  we  will  receive  and  acknowledge,  as  our  Elders  in  the 
Gospel,  those  members  in  the  Church  who  are  or  may  be  chosen 
and  appointed  for  the  time  being  to   that  office  and  calling  by 


SHAKER   CHURCH  COVENANT.  133 

the  authority  aforesaid  ;  and  also  that  we  will,  as  faithful  breth- 
ren and  sisters  in  Christ,  conform  and  subject  ourselves  to  the 
known  and  established  faith  and  principles  of  our  community, 
and  to  the  counsels  and  directions  of  the  Elders,  who  shall  act  in 
union,  as  aforesaid,  and  also  to  all  the  orders,  rules  and  regula- 
tions which  are  or  may  be  given  and  established  in  the  Church, 
according  to  the  principles  and  by  the  authority  aforesaid. 

Section  4.      Duties  of  the  members  : 

The  faithful  improvement  of  our  time  and  talents  in  doing 
good,  is  a  duty  which  God  requires  of  man,  as  a  rational,  social 
and  accountable  being,  and  this  duty  is  indispensable  in  the 
members  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Therefore,  it  is  and  shall  be 
required  of  all  and  every  member  of  this  institution,  unitedly 
and  individually,  to  occupy  and  improve  their  time  and  talents 
to  support  and  maintain  the  interest  of  the  Society,  to  promote 
the  objects  of  this  Covenant,  and  discharge  their  duty  to  God 
and  each  other,  according  to  their  several  abilities  and  callings, 
as  members  in  union  with  one  common  lead  ;  so  that  the  vari- 
ous gifts  and  talents  of  all  may  be  improved  for  the  mutual  ben- 
efit of  each  other  and  all  concerned.  ^ 

Section  5.  As  we  esteem  the  mutual  possession  and  enjoy- 
fnent  of  the  consecrated  interest  and  privileges  of  the  Church  a 
valuable  consideration,  fully  adequate  to  any  amount  of  personal 
interest,  labor  or  service,  devoted  or  consecrated  by  any  indi- 
vidual ;  we,  therefore,  covenant  and  agree,  in  conformity  with  an 
established  and  well-known  principle  of  the  Church,  that  no 
person  whatever  under  its  care  and  protection,  can  be  employed 
for  wages  of  any  kind,  on  his  or  her  individual  account,  and  that 
no  ground  is  or  can  be  afforded  for  the  recovery  of  any  prop- 
erty or  service  devoted  or  consecrated  as  aforesaid  ;  and  it  is 
also  agreed  that  in  the  case  of  the  removal  of  any  member  or 
members  from  one  family,  society  or  branch  of  the  Church 
to  another,  his,  her  or  their  previous  signature  or  signatures  to 
the  Church  or  Family  Covenant  from  whence  such  member  or 
members  shall  have  removed,  shall  forever  bar  all  claims  which 


134  THE  ALETHEIA. 

are  incompatible  with  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  this  Cov- 
enant, in  the  same  manner  as  if  such  removal  had  not  taken 
place.  Yet  all  who  shall  so  remove,  in  union  with  the  authority 
aforesaid,  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  benefits  and  privileges  of 
the  Order  in  which  they  shall  then  be  placed,  so  long  as  they 
shall  conform  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  same. 

ARTICLE    VII. 

Dedication  a?id  Release. 

Section  i.  Dedication  and  consecration  of  persons,  prop- 
erty and  service : 

According  to  the' faith  of  the  Gospel' which  we  have  received 
and  agreeable  to  -the  uniform  practice  of  the  Church  of  Christ 
from  its  first  establishment  in  this  Society,  we  covenant  and 
agree  to  dedicate,  devote,  consecrate  and  give  up,  and  by  this 
Covenant  we  do  solemnly  and  conscientiously  dedicate,  devote, 
consecrate  and  give  up  ourselves  and  services,  together  with  all 
our  temporal  interest  to  the  service  of  God  and  the  support  and 
benefit  of  the  Church  of  this  community,  and  to  such  other  pious 
and  charitable  purposes  as  the  Gospel  may  require,  to  be  under 
the  care  and  direction  of  such  Elders,  Deacons  and  Trustees 
as  are  or  may  be  appointed  and  established  in  the  Church  by 
the  authority  aforesaid. 

Section  2.  Dedication  and  release  of  private  claim: 
Whereas,  in  pursuance  of  the  requirement  of  the  Gospel, 
and  in  the  full  exercise  of  our  faith,  reason  and  understanding, 
we  have  freely  and  voluntarily  sacrificed  all  self-interest,  and 
consecrated  and  devoted  our  persons,  services  and  property,  as 
aforesaid,  to  the  pious  and  benevolent  purposes  of  the  Gospel : 
Therefore,  we  do  hereby  solemnly  and  conscientiously,  unitedly 
and  individually,  for  ourselves  and  our  heirs,  release  and  quit- 
claim to  the  Deacons,  or  acting  Trustees  of  the  Church  for  the 
time  being,  for  the  uses  and  purposes  aforesaid,  all  our  private 
personal  right,  title,  interest,  claim  and  demand  of,  in  and  to  the 
estate,   interest,    property    and    appurtenances    so    consecrated, 


SHAKER   CHURCH  COVENANT.  135 

devoted  and  given  up ;  and  we  hereby  jointly  and  severally 
promise  and  declare  in  the  presence  of  God,  and  before  these 
witnesses,  that  we  will  never  hereafter,  neither  directly  nor  indi- 
rectly, under  any  circumstances  whatever,  contrary  to  the  stipu- 
lations of  this  Covenant,  make  nor  require  any  account  of  any 
interest,  property,  labor  or  service,  nor  any  division  thereof 
which  is,  has  been,  or  may  be  devoted  by  us,  or  any  of  us,  to 
the  uses*  and  purposes  aforesaid,  nor  bring  any  charge  of  debt 
or  damage,  or  hold  any  claim,  nor  demand  whatever  against  the 
said  Deacons  or  Trustees,  nor  against  the  Church  or  Society, 
nor  against  any  member  thereof,  on  account  of  any  property  or 
service,  given,  rendered,  devoted  or  consecrated  to  the  aforesaid 
sacred  and  charitable  purposes. 

In  confirmation  of  all  the  aforesaid  statements,   covenants, 
promises  and  articles  of  agreement,  we  have  hereunto  subscribed 

our  names  and  affixed  our  seals,  commencing  on  this day  of 

,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 

and . 


.:\K- 


c^ 


